Design Your Outdoor Space with Precision

Understanding Material Density and Volume

Unlike paint or lumber, landscaping materials (mulch, gravel, sand, topsoil) are sold by volume (cubic yards or cubic meters) or by weight (tons or kilograms). The key to accurate estimation is understanding the density of each material.

1. Mulch and Topsoil

Mulch and topsoil are light materials. One cubic yard of mulch covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep.

For garden beds, a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch is ideal. This suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and regulates soil temperature. Use our Mulch Calculator to find exact bags or cubic yards.

2. Gravel and Crushed Stone

Gravel is much heavier than mulch. One cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons (2,800 lbs). It is used as a base for driveways, patios, and drainage systems.

For a driveway, you need 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel. For a paver patio, 4 inches of gravel base is standard. Use our Gravel Calculator for exact cubic yards and tons.

3. Sand

Sand is used as a bedding layer for pavers (1 inch) and as a base for above-ground pools. It is also used to improve soil drainage. One cubic yard of sand weighs roughly 1.3 tons.

Hardscaping: Pavers and Retaining Walls

Hardscaping (patios, walkways, retaining walls) requires a compacted sub-base to prevent settling.

For a paver patio, you need a 4-inch compacted gravel base, a 1-inch bedding sand layer, and the pavers themselves. You must also install edge restraints to prevent the pavers from spreading. Our Paver Calculator calculates all components.

For retaining walls, you need a leveling pad of gravel, the blocks, drainage gravel behind the wall, and a perforated drain pipe. Failure to install proper drainage is the number one cause of retaining wall collapse.

Global Landscaping Standards: US vs. UK vs. Australia

Landscaping materials are measured differently around the world.

USA: Materials are sold by the cubic yard (27 cubic feet) or by the ton. Bagged materials are common at hardware stores (2 cubic foot bags).

UK: Materials are sold by the cubic meter or by the tonne. Bagged materials are sold in 25kg or 40kg bags, or in bulk bags (usually 0.7 cubic meters).

Australia: Materials are sold by the cubic meter or by the tonne. Bagged materials are sold in 20kg or 25kg bags. Sand and gravel are often sold by the "bulka bag" (1 cubic meter).