CodeKitHubWhat Is This Tool?
Bulk landscaping and construction materials — dirt, gravel, crushed stone, asphalt millings, mulch, and sand — are almost universally sold by the cubic yard, not by weight or bag count, because volume is what determines how much space the delivered material will actually cover. Converting a project's dimensions (typically measured in feet for length and width, inches for depth) into cubic yards means multiplying length × width × depth and then dividing by 27, since one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
Because different materials have very different densities — gravel packs much heavier than mulch for the same volume — this calculator also estimates the approximate weight in tons for each material, using standard published density figures per material type, which matters for anything with a delivery weight limit or where you're being quoted by the ton instead of by volume.
Board feet is a separate, unrelated unit used specifically for lumber: one board foot is the volume of a board 1 foot long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. The formula is (thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet) ÷ 12 — this calculator's second tab computes that directly from a board's dimensions.
Why Use It?
- You're on the phone with a gravel supplier who's asking "how many yards do you need" and you only know the driveway's length, width, and how deep you want it — plug in the numbers and get a real answer instead of guessing.
- A landscaper quoted you "3 yards of mulch" for a garden bed and you want to sanity-check that against your bed's actual square footage before paying for delivery.
- You're ordering a load of topsoil and the truck has a rated weight limit — check the tonnage estimate first so you don't overload the delivery or get hit with a split-load surcharge.
- You're framing a small deck and the lumberyard prices rough-cut boards by the board foot, not by the piece — enter one board's dimensions instead of doing thickness × width × length ÷ 12 by hand for every size.
- You're comparing gravel versus mulch for the same flower bed and want to know why one delivery estimate came back so much heavier than the other, even though the volume is nearly identical.
- 100% local: your project dimensions are calculated entirely in your browser and are never sent to a server.
How to Use
- On the Volume Materials tab, choose a material, then enter the length and width in feet and the depth in inches.
- The result updates instantly, showing both cubic yards and an approximate weight in tons for the selected material.
- Switch to the Board Feet tab to calculate lumber instead — enter a single board's length (feet), width (inches), and thickness (inches).
- The board feet result updates instantly as you adjust any dimension.
Example
Input
Material: Gravel, Length: 10 ft, Width: 10 ft, Depth: 4 inOutput
1.23 cubic yards, approximately 1.73 tons10 ft × 10 ft × (4 in ÷ 12) = 33.3 cubic feet, divided by 27 (cubic feet per cubic yard) = 1.23 cubic yards. The ton estimate multiplies that by gravel's standard density of roughly 2,800 lb per cubic yard, then divides by 2,000 lb per ton.
Approximate density by material
Density is why the same volume of two different materials can weigh very different amounts — this is what the tonnage estimate is based on.
| Material | Approx. density (lb/cubic yard) |
|---|---|
| Dirt / Topsoil | 2,200 |
| Sand | 2,700 |
| Crushed Stone | 2,700 |
| Asphalt (millings) | 2,500 |
| Gravel | 2,800 |
| Mulch | 800 |
Typical depth by project type
This calculator computes volume from whatever depth you enter — it doesn't recommend one. The depths below are common industry starting points, not requirements; always follow your contractor's or local code's specification for structural work like driveways or patio bases.
| Project | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Gravel driveway base | 4-6 in |
| Decorative mulch bed | 2-3 in |
| Paver/patio base (crushed stone) | 4-6 in |
| Garden bed topsoil | 6-12 in |
| Sand under pavers (bedding layer) | 1 in |
| Asphalt millings path | 3-4 in |
Related tools
For other measurement and calculation tools, try these.
→ Unit Converter · Percentage Calculator · GCD & LCM Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are bulk materials measured in cubic yards instead of a simpler unit?
A cubic yard is the standard unit the landscaping and construction supply industry orders and delivers by, because it directly reflects volume — how much physical space the material will cover at your chosen area and depth — which weight or bag count alone doesn't capture as directly.
How accurate is the tonnage estimate?
It's a reasonable approximation based on typical published density figures for each material type, but actual density varies with moisture content, compaction, and the specific source material — for a delivery with a strict weight limit, confirm the exact density figure with your supplier rather than relying solely on this estimate.
What is a board foot, exactly?
A board foot is a volume measurement for lumber, equal to a board 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches). It's not the same as a linear foot — a longer, narrower board and a shorter, wider one can have the same board-foot volume.
Should I add extra material for compaction?
This calculator gives you the raw volume for your specified depth. Many contractors add roughly 10-20% extra for materials like gravel or stone that compact under weight or foot traffic, since the delivered depth typically decreases once the material settles — check with your supplier for a compaction-adjusted recommendation for your specific material.
Are my project dimensions sent to a server?
No. All calculations happen entirely in JavaScript in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.
Can I calculate an irregularly shaped area, like an L-shaped driveway?
Not directly in one pass — the calculator expects a single rectangular length and width. For an irregular shape, split it into two or more rectangles, run each one separately, and add the resulting cubic yards together.
What depth should I use for a gravel driveway versus a mulch bed?
This calculator doesn't recommend a depth — that depends on the material's purpose. As a general reference point, driveway base gravel is commonly installed 4-6 inches deep, while mulch beds are typically 2-3 inches. Enter the depth your project or contractor specifies in the Depth field to get the matching volume.
Why does the board feet tab use different units than the volume materials tab?
Because lumber and bulk materials are priced by industry-standard units that don't match. Bulk materials are quoted by the cubic yard (length and width in feet, depth in inches, converted through 27 cubic feet per yard), while lumber is quoted by the board foot (thickness and width in inches, length in feet, divided by 12) — the two tabs mirror how suppliers actually invoice each material.
Does the tonnage estimate account for wet versus dry material?
No — it uses a single standard dry-weight density figure per material. Wet sand, wet topsoil, or freshly delivered gravel can weigh noticeably more than the dry-density estimate, so treat the tonnage figure as a planning approximation, not an exact delivery weight.
How do I calculate board feet for multiple boards of the same size, like a whole order of 2x6s?
Calculate the board feet for one board, then multiply the result by how many boards you're ordering — the calculator computes per-board, since that's how lumberyards typically price a line item before totaling the order.