Cubic Yard Calculator — Bulk Material Volume
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — how mulch, gravel, and similar bulk landscape materials are often sold for delivery. For topsoil specifically, use the [topsoil calculator](/calculators/topsoil-calculator/). This page converts area and depth into cubic yards and bags. It is **not** a concrete slab calculator; for post holes or poured slabs, use the [concrete calculator](/calculators/concrete-calculator/).
Worked example: 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep (1 cu yd of material). Adjust area and depth below for your beds or paths.
Estimates only.
| Item | Area | Size | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged material | — | 27 cu ft | 14 bags |
| Loose bulk delivery | — | 1 cu yd | 1 cubic yard |
Assumptions
- Coverage area: 324 sq ft
- Depth: 1 in
- Volume: 27.00 cu ft
- Volume with waste: 27.00 cu ft
- Bag size: 2 cu ft per bag
- Loose bulk sold in half-yard increments
Supplies checklist
- Landscape fabric (optional)
- Edging or border
- Wheelbarrow or garden cart
- Rake for spreading
Estimates only. Check the coverage figure on your product before buying.
The Handy Pages · thehandypages.com
Handy gear for spreading mulch and soil
- Landscape or garden rake for leveling beds and gravel (opens in new tab)
- Heavy-duty work gloves for bags, stone, and rough mulch (opens in new tab)
- Wheelbarrow or yard cart for moving bulk from the pile (opens in new tab)
- Knee pads or a garden kneeler for low bed work (opens in new tab)
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