Methodology and Sources

YardCalc calculates volume with exact unit definitions and converts it with material weights taken from engineering handbooks, extension services and manufacturer data sheets — every figure below names its source.

Formulas the calculators use

  • Rectangle: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
  • Triangle: base (ft) × height (ft) ÷ 2 × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27.
  • Round bed or ring: π ÷ 4 × (outer diameter² − inner diameter²) (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27.
  • Irregular area: length (ft) × the average of the widths measured along it (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Widths measured at even spacing, ends included, give the best result.
  • Known area: square feet × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft, 1 m² = 10.764 sq ft, 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft).
  • Round holes and tubes: π × (diameter in inches ÷ 24)² × depth (ft) ÷ 27.
  • Count multiplies an area; all areas add up.
  • To order: cubic yards × (1 + waste %), rounded up to the supplier step you pick. Steps are ¼, ½ or 1 yard; ¼ is the default. Waste defaults to 0%. Concrete defaults to 5%, inside NRMCA's 4–10%.
  • Tons = cubic yards to order × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2000; tons to yards divides instead.
  • Bags = cubic yards with waste × 27 ÷ cubic feet per bag, rounded up to whole bags. Above 60 bags of the first size, the result says to order bulk.
  • Coverage = cubic yards × 324 ÷ depth (in).
  • Ready-mix trucks carry 9–11 yd³ (NRMCA). Concrete under 3–10 yd³ gets a short-load fee note.
  • Pickup loads stop at bed volume (1.96–2.87 yd³) or payload (1,405–2,440 lb, 2026 Ford F-150), whichever runs out first.
  • Dump-truck loads show above 10 pickup loads: 12 yd³ or 14 tons per tandem load, whichever runs out first. That is one Texas supplier's figure (Soil Depot); fleets carry 5–20 yd³ a load.
  • Compacted base bought by the yard: compacted yards × compacted weight ÷ loose weight = loose yards to order; the tons are the same either way.

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.764554857984 cubic meters, exactly (NIST Handbook 44).

Material weights, bags and prices

Each material has one weight range, used on every page; weights are loose, as delivered, unless the basis says otherwise.

Materiallb per yd³BasisBags$ per yd³ConfidenceSources
Gravel 2,550–2,850
1.28–1.43 t		 dry, loose
wet (one source): 3,400		 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) $15–$75
HomeGuide, Dec 2025		 Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, Vulcan Materials, Quikrete, HomeGuide
Evidence A01, A02, A03, A05, A07, A09
Pea gravel 2,600–2,700
1.3–1.35 t		 loose, typical 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) $29–$86
HomeGuide, Dec 2025		 Supplier or manufacturer data only Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel, Lowe's, HomeGuide
Evidence A12, A13, A14, A17
Crushed stone 2,600–2,700
1.3–1.35 t		 loose, as delivered
compacted base: 3,375–3,645		 — $35–$54
HomeGuide, Dec 2025		 Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel, Vulcan Materials, USDA-NRCS, HomeGuide
Evidence A22, A24, A25, A27, A30
Crushed stone base (compacted) 3,375–3,645
1.69–1.82 t		 compacted in place — not published Estimate (one source or bag-derived) USDA-NRCS, Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies
Evidence A27, A35
#57 stone 2,322–2,600
1.16–1.3 t		 loose, 1/2–1 in clean stone
rodded (compacted): 2,665		 — not published Two or more independent sources Rohrer's Quarry (PA), Cummin Landscape Supply (Atlanta, GA), Mr. Mulch (Columbus, OH), Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel, FHWA
Evidence A25, LG-4
Crusher run (21A, ABC) 2,400–2,776
1.2–1.39 t		 loose, as delivered — not published Supplier or manufacturer data only Rohrer's Quarry (PA), Cummin Landscape Supply (Atlanta, GA), Yard Works Landscape Supply (Fort Mill, SC), Virginia DOT
Evidence LG-4
River rock 2,376–2,700
1.19–1.35 t		 loose, varies with stone size 0.5 cu ft $54–$80
supplier price lists, 2026		 Estimate (one source or bag-derived) Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel, Lowe's, MRM Landscape Supply (WA), Tri-State Landscape Supply (OH)
Evidence A39, A40, A42, A43, A45, A46
Lava rock 1,026
0.51 t		 from one 0.5 cu ft bag weight 0.5 cu ft $96–$140
HomeGuide, Dec 2025		 Estimate (one source or bag-derived) Lowe's, HomeGuide
Evidence A49, A50, A53
Decomposed granite 2,400–2,700
1.2–1.35 t		 loose, as sold 0.5 cu ft $75–$140
supplier price lists, 2026		 Supplier or manufacturer data only Sutherland Landscape (Chico, CA), Outdoor Warehouse Supply (TX), Western Materials (Valencia, CA), Earth Stone Rock (CA/AZ), Southwest Boulder & Stone, AreA Landscape Supply (Mokena, IL), Sequoia Landscape Materials (Santa Rosa, CA), Kafka Granite
Evidence LG-2
Sand 2,700–3,000
1.35–1.5 t		 damp, as delivered
dry, loose: 2,400
wet: 3,100		 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) $26–$60
supplier price lists, 2026		 Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, Vulcan Materials, Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel, Lowe's, MRM Landscape Supply (WA), Tri-State Landscape Supply (OH)
Evidence A56, A58, A59, A60, A64
Fill dirt 1,900–2,550
0.95–1.28 t		 dry, loose
wet, loose: 2,700–3,200
in the ground, dry: 2,180–3,200		 — $5–$18
Lawn Love, Dec 2025		 Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, U.S. Army, Lawn Love
Evidence S02, S03, S05, S06, S49
Topsoil 1,600–2,200
0.8–1.1 t		 dry, loose
wet, loose (wet earth figure): 2,600–3,200		 0.75 cu ft, 1 cu ft, 1.5 cu ft $20–$45
Lawn Love, Topsoil.com, 2026		 Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, U.S. Army, Do it Best, Shell Lumber, Graf's Garden Shop, Penn State Extension, Lawn Love, Topsoil.com
Evidence S01, S04, S05, S06, S16, S17, S18, S41, S49, S51
Garden soil 1,600–1,800
0.8–0.9 t		 bulk blend 1 cu ft, 1.5 cu ft, 2 cu ft $30–$70
Lawn Love, Topsoil.com, 2026		 Supplier or manufacturer data only Bags and Bulk Landscape Supply (WI), Yard Works Landscape Supply, Cummin Landscape Supply, Miracle-Gro, Lawn Love, Topsoil.com
Evidence S12, S13, S14, S19, S49, S51
Raised bed soil 1,600–1,800
0.8–0.9 t		 bulk blend 1.5 cu ft, 2 cu ft $40–$70
Topsoil.com, 2026		 Supplier or manufacturer data only Bags and Bulk Landscape Supply (WI), Yard Works Landscape Supply, Kellogg Garden Organics, University of Maryland Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Topsoil.com
Evidence S12, S13, S21, S43, S44, S51
Mulch 450–620
0.23–0.31 t		 shredded wood, as sold 2 cu ft, 3 cu ft, 1.5 cu ft $25–$50
Lawn Love, ZonedGarden, 2026		 Two or more independent sources NRAES-54 (Cornell), Caterpillar, Mississippi State University Extension, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Penn State Extension, Lawn Love, ZonedGarden
Evidence S25, S26, S28, S32, S34, S35, S36, S50, S53
Concrete 3,780–4,050
1.89–2.03 t		 fresh, normal-weight 80 lb, 60 lb, 50 lb, 40 lb $119–$162
HomeGuide Jan 2026; supplier price lists 2026		 Two or more independent sources NRMCA, ACI, Quikrete, Sakrete, HomeGuide, GSI Concrete (PA), Townsend Concrete (CA)
Evidence C01, C02, C03, C11, C14, C20, C23, C24
Asphalt 3,900–3,960
1.95–1.98 t		 hot mix, compacted — not published Two or more independent sources Caterpillar, TxDOT
Evidence A65a, A65c, A65d

Evidence IDs point to the research ledgers kept with the site's source files.

How prices are dated

Prices are national or regional reference ranges from dated cost guides and supplier price lists, last updated September 2026. Local prices vary with region, haul distance and order size, so each price shows its source and date.

A material without a reliable price shows none. Prices are updated each January and spring; the date on this page changes only when a price changes.

Known limits of the numbers

  • Moisture changes weight: wet sand, soil and gravel weigh more per yard than dry.
  • Compacted base weighs more per yard than loose stone; choose the compacted option, then order the tons, or the loose yards the calculator shows.
  • "Landscape rock" has no single weight: lava rock weighs less than half as much as river rock per yard.
  • Bag weights are not bag volumes: use the cubic feet printed on the bag.

All sources

The calculators draw on 77 sources, read on September 29, 2026.

YardCalc