Material Calculator
Universal bulk material estimator for concrete, gravel, asphalt, bark mulch, topsoil, and sand in cubic yards, tons, and bags.
= 3.81 US Tons (66.67 Cubic Feet)
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What Is a Material Calculator?
A universal material calculator computes volume, tonnage, and bag counts for all major landscaping and construction bulk materials: ready-mix concrete, crushed stone, asphalt, bark mulch, screened topsoil, and masonry sand.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your bulk material type (Gravel, Concrete, Asphalt, Mulch, Topsoil, or Sand).
- Enter length and width of the coverage area in feet.
- Enter layer depth in inches.
- View the calculated cubic yards, weight in US tons, and retail bag counts.
Universal Bulk Material Formula
\text{Cu Yds} = \frac{L \times W \times (D / 12)}{27} \times 1.10, \quad \text{Tons} = \frac{\text{Cu Yds} \times \rho_{\text{material}}}{2000}Densities vary: Mulch ~700 lbs/yd³, Topsoil ~2,200 lbs/yd³, Sand ~2,700 lbs/yd³, Gravel ~2,800 lbs/yd³, Asphalt ~3,950 lbs/yd³, Concrete ~4,000 lbs/yd³.
Worked Example
Scenario: Ordering screened topsoil for a 20 ft by 10 ft garden bed at a 4-inch depth.
Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft.
Volume: 200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.67 cu ft.
Cubic yards with 10% settling: (66.67 ÷ 27) × 1.10 = 2.72 cu yds.
Weight: 2.72 cu yds × 2,200 lbs/yd³ = 5,984 lbs (2.99 US tons).
Tips & Key Notes
- Organic materials like mulch and topsoil settle and decompose by 10% to 15% during the first season.
- Always buy bulk delivery from local landscape supply yards when ordering more than 2 cubic yards to save 50%+ compared to retail bags.
- Moist or wet materials weigh significantly more; delivery truck scales bill by weight, so order during dry weather if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 1 cubic yard of mulch weigh?
Dry shredded bark mulch weighs approximately 600 to 800 pounds per cubic yard. Wet mulch can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
How much does 1 cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
One cubic yard of dry, screened topsoil weighs approximately 2,000 to 2,200 pounds (approx 1.1 US tons). Wet topsoil weighs up to 2,700 pounds.
How many bags of mulch equal one cubic yard?
Standard bags of mulch contain 2.0 cubic feet. Because a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, it takes 13.5 bags (round to 14 bags) of 2 cu ft mulch to equal one cubic yard.
How deep should landscape mulch be spread?
A depth of 2 to 3 inches is optimal for weed suppression and soil moisture retention. Avoid piling mulch deeper than 4 inches or touching tree trunks (mulch volcanoes).
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