Landscaping Calculators

How landscaping estimating works

Almost every landscaping material starts with the same calculation: area × depth = volume. What changes is how the material is sold. Mulch and topsoil are sold by loose volume in bags or by the cubic yard / cubic meter. Gravel and crushed stone are usually sold by weight, so volume has to be converted using a density — roughly 1.5–1.6 tonnes per cubic meter for most stone. Pavers are sold by the piece or pallet and sit on a compacted sub-base and a sand bed, which are separate orders.

Depth is the input that matters most. Mulch beds rarely need more than 3 in (7.5 cm), new lawns need 4–6 in (10–15 cm) of topsoil, and a driveway sub-base can be 8–12 in (200–300 mm). Loose materials settle, so allow 5–20% extra depending on the material.

Glossary

MOT Type 1 (UK) / road base (AU) / paver base (US)

graded crushed stone that compacts well

Short ton

2,000 lb (US)

Tonne

1,000 kg

Bulk bag

a builders' merchant bag of ~0.7–1 m³

Updated 2026-10-18 by the DIYCalcLab Editorial Team · How we calculate