ton/yd³
cubic yards
tons

How to Calculate Landscaping Material

The amount of landscaping material needed depends on the area’s dimensions, material depth, and density. Here’s how it works:

  1. Area Calculation:
    Multiply the length and width of the area to get the surface area.
    Formula: \text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width}
  2. Volume Calculation:
    Multiply the area by the depth of the material. Convert units as necessary.
    Formula: \text{Volume} = \text{Area} \times \text{Depth}
  3. Weight Calculation:
    Multiply the volume by the material density to get the total weight.
    Formula: \text{Weight} = \text{Volume} \times \text{Material Density}

Example:

You’re planning to add a 20 ft × 15 ft flower bed with a 2-inch depth of mulch. The mulch has a density of 0.6 tons per cubic yard.

  1. Calculate the area:
    20 \, \text{ft} \times 15 \, \text{ft} = 300 \, \text{sq ft}
  2. Calculate the depth in feet:
    2 \, \text{in} = 0.167 \, \text{ft}
  3. Calculate the volume in cubic feet:
    300 \, \text{sq ft} \times 0.167 \, \text{ft} = 50.1 \, \text{cubic ft}
  4. Convert volume to cubic yards:
    50.1 \, \text{cubic ft} \times \frac{1}{27} = 1.86 \, \text{cubic yards}
  5. Calculate the total weight:
    1.86 \, \text{cubic yards} \times 0.6 \, \text{tons/yard³} = 1.12 \, \text{tons}

Result: You need approximately 1.86 cubic yards of mulch weighing 1.12 tons.