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Measure · guide

Bulk Vs Bagged Landscape Materials

A focused guide to bulk vs bagged landscape materials for planning your next yard project.

Volume, weight, and package count describe different purchasing units. Converting between them requires the correct material data.

Measuring an irregular yard with tape, stakes and paper sketch
Illustrative process view

How to plan it

  1. Calculate placed volume from area and depth
  2. Convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27
  3. Use the supplier density for tons or the labeled bag volume for bags
Convert volume into order unitsVolume comes from area and depth. Bags need the bag volume. Tons need the supplier density.area × depthcubic feet÷ 27cubic yards× supplier density÷ 2,000 = US tons× 27 ÷ bag size= bags
Volume comes from area and depth. Bags need the bag volume. Tons need the supplier density.
Check before buying: Do not use a generic tons-per-yard number for every soil and aggregate.

Turn this into a quantity

Record your site measurements first. Then use a calculator with the depth, application rate, or coverage from the actual material specification.

Open yard area calculator

Source and limits

University of Maryland Extension: Determining the area/size of a practice. Local conditions and manufacturer guidance may call for different materials or installation details.