Plan a whole landscaping project
- Paver patio: Pavers (counts pavers, base and bedding), then Gravel for tons of base, and Sand if you need bags.
- New lawn: Topsoil for 4–6 in of soil (Penn State Extension's guideline), then Sod or Grass seed. Seed is also the tool for overseeding a thin lawn or patching bare spots.
- Rainwater: the Rainwater tank calculator sizes a tank or rain barrels from your roof, monthly rainfall and garden use.
- Garden beds: Square footage for odd shapes, then Mulch at 2–4 in.
- Terrace or raised bed wall: Retaining wall blocks, with Gravel for the leveling pad and drainage stone.
Cubic yards, tons and bags
Landscape materials are sold three ways. Bulk yards quote per cubic yard or per ton, and stores sell bags by cubic feet or weight. Our calculators give you volume first, then convert to tons using a density you can edit, and to bags using the bag size. Densities vary with the material and moisture: published reference ranges put ¼–2 in gravel at about 1.4–1.7 tons per cubic yard and dry topsoil at about 1.0–1.3. Ask your supplier for their figure.
Depth guides at a glance
| Material | Typical depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Organic mulch | 2–4 in (1–2 in if fine) | Penn State Extension |
| Topsoil for a new lawn | 4–6 in, settled | Penn State Extension |
| Paver base, patio / driveway | 4 in+ / 6 in+ compacted | ICPI Tech Spec 2 |
| Paver bedding sand | 1 in, uncompacted | ICPI Tech Spec 2 |
| Retaining wall leveling pad | 6 in compacted | Keystone installation manual |