Material guide
Yard Coverage Guide
How to measure your project and turn square feet and depth into cubic yards.
The quick rule
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
That rule of thumb works for most loose materials. Deeper layers need more, and some materials compact more than others once they are spread and settled.
The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Example: a bed 20 ft long, 10 ft wide, at 3 in deep = 20 × 10 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. Add about 10% for settling and grading, and order about 2 yards.
Approximate coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | about 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | about 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | about 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | about 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | about 54 sq ft |
Math only, before settling or compaction. Our 3 cubic yard delivery minimum covers about 324 sq ft at 3 inches.
Measuring irregular areas
- Split L-shapes and odd beds into rectangles, then add them up.
- For a circle, multiply the radius by itself, then by 3.14, to get square feet.
- For a curving bed, measure the average width at a few points.
- When in doubt, send photos and rough measurements and we will help.
Want us to check your numbers?
Send your measurements and the material. We will confirm the yardage before anything is delivered.