Calculate exactly how much material your project needs.
Cubic yards, tons, bags, cost, and truck safety — calculated instantly for mulch, soil, gravel, sand, concrete, and asphalt.
Accurate material physics
Material-specific density, settling, and compaction allowances — not generic geometry alone.
Buy smarter
Compare bagged retail with bulk delivery before you haul dozens of expensive bags home.
Haul safely
See estimated load weight before overloading a pickup, trailer, or dump truck.
Material calculator library
Estimate any job with the right material data.
Choose a material to get a reliable starting point for depth, density, compaction, weight, bags, and bulk-order costs.
Shredded Hardwood Mulch
Standard landscaping mulch. Use 3" for weed suppression.
Screened Topsoil (Dry)
Tops new lawns, raised beds, and fill projects.
Crushed Stone (#57 Granite)
Standard 3/4" angular base stone for driveways & drainage.
Crusher Run / 21A Road Base
Stone dust + rock, packs into a hard stable base.
Coarse Concrete Sand
Paver bedding & mortar mix sand.
Ready-Mix Concrete (3000 PSI)
Standard structural concrete. Delivered by transit truck.
No more guesswork
From measurements to a confident order in minutes.
Most calculators stop at raw cubic yards. YardCraft Pro helps you determine the material that will arrive loose, what it weighs, how it settles, and whether bulk delivery really saves money.
Start your estimate →- 01
Measure your area
Choose a simple or specialized shape, then add dimensions.
- 02
Choose material
Use its actual density and recommended installation depth.
- 03
Account for reality
Apply settling, compaction, and an optional site buffer.
- 04
Order safely
Compare formats and check whether your vehicle can haul it.
Field reference
Recommended installed depths.
Depth depends on drainage, intended use, local conditions, and manufacturer/specifier guidance. These common ranges are planning estimates only.
| Application | Typical depth | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape mulch | 2–4 in | 3 in is a common weed-suppression target. |
| Paver bedding sand | 1 in | Use on a properly compacted aggregate base. |
| Walkway gravel | 2–3 in | Depth changes with stone size and traffic. |
| Driveway aggregate base | 4–6 in | Use project-specific structural guidance. |
| Concrete patio slab | 4 in | Thickness/reinforcement must suit site loads. |
FAQ
Cubic yard calculator questions, answered.
How do I calculate cubic yards?+
First calculate cubic feet by multiplying length × width × depth (all in feet). Then divide cubic feet by 27, because one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. YardCraft Pro applies your selected material’s compaction allowance and extra waste buffer afterward.
How many bags make one cubic yard?+
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. It takes 14 standard 2-cubic-foot bags (rounding up from 13.5) or 18 standard 1.5-cubic-foot bags to equal one cubic yard. Concrete bag yields differ by bag size and mix type.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?+
Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 2,600–3,000 pounds per cubic yard (1.3–1.5 US tons). Actual delivered weight changes with material size and moisture. Select your exact material above for an estimate.
Should I add extra material for compaction or waste?+
Usually, yes. Mulch, soil, and aggregate settle or compact after installation. YardCraft Pro applies the selected material’s standard compaction factor and lets you add a separate 0–25% waste buffer for irregular edges, spillage, or site conditions.
Can I haul a cubic yard in a pickup truck?+
It depends on the material and your specific payload rating. A cubic yard of mulch may be feasible for some pickups, but a cubic yard of gravel commonly weighs 2,600–3,000 lb and exceeds many half-ton truck payload limits. Use the payload checker above and your vehicle door-sticker rating.