Cubic yard coverage chart: how far does a yard or a bag go?
This cubic yard coverage chart applies to any loose material sold by volume: mulch, topsoil, compost, gravel, sand and stone. For your exact project, use the cubic yards calculator.
Cubic yard coverage chart: square feet per cubic yard
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard | Cubic yards per 100 sq ft | Cubic yards per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| ½ in | 648 | 0.15 | 1.5 |
| 1 in | 324 | 0.31 | 3.1 |
| 2 in | 162 | 0.62 | 6.2 |
| 3 in | 108 | 0.93 | 9.3 |
| 4 in | 81 | 1.23 | 12.3 |
| 5 in | 64.8 | 1.54 | 15.4 |
| 6 in | 54 | 1.85 | 18.5 |
| 8 in | 40.5 | 2.47 | 24.7 |
| 12 in | 27 | 3.7 | 37 |
Square feet covered by one bag
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | At 1 in | At 2 in | At 3 in | At 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 | 6 sq ft | 3 sq ft | 2 sq ft | 1.5 sq ft |
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 | 9 sq ft | 4.5 sq ft | 3 sq ft | 2.3 sq ft |
| 1 cu ft | 27 | 12 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 4 sq ft | 3 sq ft |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 | 18 sq ft | 9 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 4.5 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | 24 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 8 sq ft | 6 sq ft |
| 3 cu ft | 9 | 36 sq ft | 18 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 9 sq ft |
Typical depths
- Mulch: 3 in for new beds, 1 in to refresh.
- Gravel: 2 to 3 in for paths, 4 to 6 in for driveways.
- Topsoil: 4 to 6 in for a new lawn, 6 to 12 in for new beds.
- Compost: ¼ to ½ in on lawns, 1 to 2 in on beds.
- Sand: 1 in under pavers, 6 to 12 in in a sandbox.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches and 54 at 6 inches. The same applies to any material sold by the yard.
How many 2 cubic foot bags make a yard?
13.5 bags. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How do I read the cubic yard coverage chart?
Find your depth in the left column. The next column shows how many square feet one cubic yard covers; the last two show how many yards you need for 100 or 1,000 sq ft.
How do I work out coverage for another depth?
Divide 324 by the depth in inches. For example, at 2.5 inches one cubic yard covers 324 ÷ 2.5 = 129.6 sq ft.