BUCKEYE OUTDOOR SUPPLY / CHESTERLAND, OHIO
Landscape material calculator.
Less guessing.
Work out how many cubic yards of mulch, topsoil, gravel, limestone or sand you need. Add one bed or a dozen, measure in feet or footsteps, and have the total handy when you call.
01 / Start with what you know
No tape measure for the whole bed?
First measure a short, known distance—such as 10 feet. Walk it normally and count each step. Divide that distance by your step count, then enter your feet per step below. Do not assume everyone’s step is the same length.
Walk the length and width of each bed, counting steps. This is a rough estimate: remeasure before ordering if the shape or boundaries are unclear.
My beds are curved—or I have no measurements yet.
Curved bed: divide it into small rectangles or triangles, without overlaps. Measure each section and add it below. For a long curved strip, use several shorter sections.
Round bed: measure straight across the center, edge to edge. That is the diameter.
Only mulching part of the yard? Measure the beds, not your entire property. Subtract large spaces you will leave uncovered.
Can’t measure today? Sketch the beds and note any known dimensions. Call us for help. A photo without a scale cannot reliably tell us square footage.
02 / Add your beds
Enter dimensions in feet. Each bed can have a different added depth.
Extra material is optional, not a measurement correction or a compaction allowance. For stone bases and grading, confirm depth and compaction requirements before ordering.
Before you order.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. A 20 × 5 ft bed is 100 square feet; at 3 inches deep that is 100 × 3 ÷ 324 = about 0.93 cubic yards.
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 162 square feet at 2 inches.
Does this estimate tell me what to order?
It estimates volume from your measurements. Ask the yard to confirm ordering increments, material suitability and delivery. Step-based measurements are approximate.
Can a photo tell me my bed size?
A photo without a known scale cannot reliably determine area. Include a measured dimension and a simple sketch when asking for help.
QUICK REFERENCE
What one cubic
yard covers.
- 1 inch deepAbout 324 sq ft per cubic yard
- 2 inches deepAbout 162 sq ft per cubic yard
- 3 inches deepAbout 108 sq ft per cubic yard
- 4 inches deepAbout 81 sq ft per cubic yard
- 6 inches deepAbout 54 sq ft per cubic yard
Spread evenly, before settling or compaction. Your measurements determine your estimate.