Yards of Material

Landscape material weights, bags and depths

Landscape material weights change with moisture and grading, so the table below gives each material's weight per cubic yard as its sources report it, with how it's sold and how deep to lay it. Ranges are shown where sources disagree.

How much a cubic yard weighs, and how it's sold

Weights are for a loose cubic yard as delivered, in the condition shown. Where sources disagree, you see the full range; the calculators use the typical figure. The last column is what to add to the measured volume before you order.

Landscape material weights per cubic yard, bag sizes and extra to order
Material Weight per cubic yard Tons per yard, typical Bags sold Add before ordering Sources
Crusher run Gravel Calculator 2,430–3,000 lbdry, loose 1.34 Bulk only 33–47% for compaction 1 2 3 1
#57 stone Gravel Calculator 2,500–2,580 lbdry, loose 1.26 0.5 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 2 4 5 6
Pea gravel Gravel Calculator 2,440–3,000 lbdry, loose 1.40 0.5 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 7 8 9 10
River rock Gravel Calculator 2,400–2,600 lbdry, loose 1.25 0.5 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 11 5 12 13
Lava rock Rock Calculator 1,026–1,260 lbdry, loose 0.57 0.5 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 14 15 15
Decomposed granite Gravel Calculator 2,700–3,000 lbdry, loose 1.43 Bulk only 5% for spillage (adjustable) 8 9 12
Stone dust Gravel Calculator 2,700–3,000 lbdry, loose 1.43 Bulk only 5% for spillage (adjustable) 8 16
Sand Cubic Yard Calculator 2,241–2,800 lbdry, loose wet: 3,240 lb 1.33 50 lb bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 1 7 8 12 17 18
Fill dirt Dirt Calculator 1,854–2,697 lbdry (bulk density) wet: 2,200–2,400 lb 1.12 Bulk only 10–20% for settling 19 20 8 21 22
Topsoil Dirt Calculator 1,854–2,697 lbdry (bulk density) wet: 2,200–2,400 lb 1.12 0.75 cu ft bag, 1 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 19 20 8 23 24
Hardwood mulch Cubic Yard Calculator 400–800 lbdry, loose 0.30 2 cu ft bag, 1.5 cu ft bag 5% for spillage (adjustable) 25 8 12 26 27
Concrete Concrete Calculator 3,780–4,185 lbcured 1.99 Bulk only 10% for spillage (adjustable) 28 29 30 31 32
Hot mix asphalt Asphalt Calculator 3,834–4,050 lbcompacted in place 1.98 Bulk only 5% for spillage (adjustable) 33 34 35 36 37
Asphalt millings Asphalt Calculator 2,268–2,484 lbdry, loose 1.19 Bulk only 5% for spillage (adjustable) 1

How deep to lay it

These are common depths from the extension services, manufacturers and transportation agencies cited below. Your soil, traffic and local code may call for more.

Recommended depths for common landscape and paving projects
Project Material Depth Sources
Gravel garden path Gravel 2 in (minimum) 38
Gravel driveway surface Gravel 4.5–6.5 in 39
Mulch in planting beds Mulch 2–3 in 40
Base under a concrete slab Crushed stone 4 in 41
Concrete walk or patio Concrete 4 in 42 43
Concrete driveway Concrete 4–5 in 44
Base under a paver patio Crushed stone 4–6 in 45 46
Base under a paver driveway Crushed stone 6–12 in 45 46
Asphalt driveway surface Asphalt 2.5 in 47

Sources

  1. Wisconsin DOT / Wisconsin Highway Research Program (Michigan State Univ. & Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison), Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates of Wisconsin (WHRP G22-05 Final Report, Dec 2023). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  2. T.H. Kinsella, Inc. (Kinsella Quarries), Fayetteville, NY, Project Calculator - Materials & Pricing Estimates. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  3. Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies, Estimating Quantities and Costs (DGLVR Program webinar slides, 2/16/2023). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  4. Federal Highway Administration, Strength Characterization of Open-Graded Aggregates for Structural Backfills (FHWA-HRT-15-034), Chapter 3, Table 7. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  5. Graniterock, Southside 1" x #4 Round Rock (Tech Note). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  6. Do it Best (retailer), Quikrete 0.5 Cu. Ft. 50 Lb. All-Purpose Gravel (retailer listing). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  7. Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute (ESCSI), Chapter 4: Proportioning Structural Lightweight Aggregate Concrete, Table 4.8. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  8. Ottr Landscape Supply (Boston, MA), Bulk Landscape Material Weight Guide: Dirt, Gravel, Mulch & More. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  9. Select Sand & Gravel (Texas/Oklahoma), Understanding Material Density: How Much Does a Yard of Landscape Rock Weigh?. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  10. Do it Best (retailer), Pavestone 0.5 Cu. Ft. 45 Lb. Pea Gravel, Model #54255 (retailer listing). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  11. Graniterock, Southside 1 1/2" Round Rock (Tech Note). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  12. Roseville Landscape Material Supply (Roseville, CA), Landscape Materials Calculator - Material Weight and Coverage Reference. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  13. Do it Best (retailer), Pavestone 0.5 Cu. Ft. Decorative Landscape River Pebbles, Model #54250 (retailer listing). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  14. Landscape Centre Inc. (British Columbia, Canada), Bulk Materials: Lava Rock. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  15. Do it Best (retailer), Pavestone 0.5 Cu. Ft. Red Volcanic Rock, 19 Lb., Model #54341 (retailer listing). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  16. Select Sand & Gravel (Texas/Oklahoma), What Are Limestone Screenings Used For?. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  17. Engineering ToolBox, Engineering ToolBox bulk material density table (page d_1652; exact page title not captured). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  18. The Quikrete Companies, DATA SHEET - QUIKRETE Sand & Gravel Products (revised November 2020). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  19. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Health - Bulk Density (Soil Health Educators Guide sheet). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  20. South Dakota State University Extension (H. Klopp, A. Bly; updated 2023-09-22), Bulk Density is an Indicator of Soil Health. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  21. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Field Office Technical Guide), Conservation Practice Standard: Dike (Code 356), North Dakota, October 2003. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  22. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (PDF hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Soil Testing Lab), Ponds - Planning, Design, Construction (Agriculture Handbook 590). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  23. ScottsMiracle-Gro, Scotts Premium Topsoil - 0.75 CF (product 7113075). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  24. Do it Best (retailer listing), Timberline 1 Cu. Ft. All-Purpose Top Soil (item 701263). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  25. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Engineering Handbook Part 637, Chapter 2 Composting (210-VI-NEH, Amend. 40, Nov 2010), Table 2A-1. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  26. Scotts Miracle-Gro, Scotts Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch 2 cu. ft.. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  27. Scotts Miracle-Gro, Scotts Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch 1.5 cu. ft.. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  28. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Appendix C: Proposed Revisions to the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges (FHWA-HRT-05-057). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  29. The Quikrete Companies, LLC, QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) Data Sheet, revised October 2022. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  30. National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), CIP 36 - Structural Lightweight Concrete. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  31. FEMA National US&R Response System, US&R Structural Collapse Technician, Module 1C Part 3 - Hazard Identification & Building Monitoring. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  32. U.S. Navy (Naval Education and Training), Builder Advanced (NAVEDTRA 14045A), Chapter 3 Concrete Construction, 5.3.1. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  33. Asphalt Institute, Engineering FAQs. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  34. New York State Department of Transportation, Construction Inspection Manual, Section 402 - Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Pavements (February 2019). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  35. Asphalt magazine (Asphalt Institute trademark; authors are Asphalt Institute engineers), Five handy rules of thumb for successful asphalt pavement construction (Gierhart & Wielinski, Sept 11, 2023). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  36. Illinois Department of Transportation, District 1, HMA Mix Selection Guide 2023 (District One Hot-Mix Asphalt Mixture Treatments, revised 6/1/2023). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  37. Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Construction and Materials Manual, Section 459 Asphalt Mat Inspection (April 2026). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  38. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gravel Pathways in the Garden (Earlene Millier, UC Master Gardener; Aug 4, 2011, reissued 2020-03-02). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  39. South Dakota LTAP / FHWA (hosted by U.S. EPA), Gravel Roads: Maintenance and Design Manual - Appendix A: Gravel Road Thickness Design Methods (Skorseth & Selim, SD LTAP for FHWA, 2000). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  40. University of Florida IFAS Extension, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principle 4 guidance (Mulch). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  41. American Concrete Institute, American Concrete Institute 2022 Draft Group B Proposals for International Code Council model codes (ACI 02, reproducing IRC Section R506). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  42. SAKRETE of North America LLC, Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix Technical Data Sheet ((c)2023). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  43. City of Newark, Delaware, Code Enforcement Division, Specs for Driveways & Private Walkways. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  44. County Materials Corp. (content refers readers to the Wisconsin Ready Mixed Concrete Association, wrmca.com), Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about Concrete Driveways. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  45. Belgard (Oldcastle APG), Belgard Technical Resource Guide (BEL25-D-516650), page 6. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  46. Unilock, Do's and Don'ts of Paver Installation: Step 2 of 3 - Base Preparation. Accessed Oct 19, 2026.
  47. Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon, Asphalt Paving Design Guide (Hicks, Curren & Lundy, 1998; revised Oct 2003 by J. Huddleston). Accessed Oct 19, 2026.