Landscaping Square Footage Calculator: Mulch, Stone, and Garden Bed Coverage
Mulch, decorative stone, bark chips, topsoil, compost, and rubber mulch all start with the same step: find the area of the beds or zones, then multiply by install depth. Area is in square feet. Bulk orders use cubic yards. Underestimate by 20% and you run out mid-job. Overestimate by 20% and you pay for a delivery that sits in the driveway.
Use this calculator for garden bed area, path coverage, and any surface that needs a coverage material. Measure each bed or zone separately if materials or depths differ, then add the totals for your order.
Mulch Coverage Rates by Depth
Mulch depth affects weed suppression and how much volume you need. The recommended depth is 2 to 3 inches. Less than 2 inches lets weed seeds germinate through. More than 4 inches traps moisture and can suffocate plant roots.
- 1 cubic yard of mulch at 1" depth: covers 324 sq ft
- 1 cubic yard of mulch at 2" depth: covers 162 sq ft
- 1 cubic yard of mulch at 3" depth: covers 108 sq ft
- 1 cubic yard of mulch at 4" depth: covers 81 sq ft
- 1 bag (2 cu ft) of mulch at 2" depth: covers 12 sq ft
- 1 bag (3 cu ft) of mulch at 3" depth: covers 12 sq ft
Decorative Stone Coverage
Decorative stone (river rock, pea gravel, crushed granite) is sold by the cubic yard or the ton. Coverage depends on stone size: finer gravel packs more densely and covers more area per cubic yard than large river rock. Coverage at 2 inches depth:
- Pea gravel (3/8"): 1 cu yd covers approximately 100 sq ft at 2" depth; 1 ton ≈ 0.7 cu yd
- Crushed granite: 1 cu yd covers approximately 90 sq ft at 2" depth
- River rock (1 to 2"): 1 cu yd covers approximately 75 to 80 sq ft at 2" depth
- Large river rock (3 to 5"): 1 cu yd covers 50 to 60 sq ft at 3 to 4" depth
Landscaping Path Coverage
Garden paths use the same area calculation as beds. Measure path length and width. For a winding path, measure the centreline length and multiply by the path width. Stepping stone paths need each stone's area: count the stones, measure one stone, and multiply. The gaps between stepping stones need their own mulch or gravel coverage.
Related tools: lawn calculator · yard calculator · cubic yards calculator · irregular shape
Landscape Fabric and Weed Barrier Coverage
Landscape fabric goes under mulch, gravel, and stone beds to block weeds while letting water drain. It is sold by the square foot in rolls from 3 ft to 6 ft wide. Measure your bed area, then add 10% for overlapping seams (minimum 6-inch overlap where two strips join) and folding up at edges. For an irregular bed totaling 350 sq ft: order 385 sq ft of landscape fabric. A 3 ft × 50 ft roll covers 150 sq ft, so you need 3 rolls (450 sq ft) for full coverage with overlaps. Pin every 18 to 24 inches with landscape staples. Buy 1 staple per square foot of fabric, 385 staples minimum. Landscape staples are sold in boxes of 50 to 100.
Erosion Control and Ground Cover Square Footage
Slopes, hillsides, and drainage channels need erosion control. Erosion control blankets (jute netting, coir matting, or straw wattle) are sold by the square yard or square foot. Measure the slope area: length along the slope (not horizontal distance) × width. For a slope 15 ft long (measured along the slope surface) and 30 ft wide: 450 sq ft of erosion blanket. Add 10% for overlapping at seams. Hydroseeding (sprayed seed-and-mulch slurry) for slope restoration is bid per square foot by the contractor and applied at 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft per application tank. Silt fence for sediment control is ordered by the linear foot, not square foot. Measure the downslope perimeter that needs protection.