Why measure every bed together
Adding all bed areas before converting the project total avoids rounding each bed to a separate whole-bag order. If you want an allowance for uneven ground, spillage, or settling, use the calculator's optional buffer control.
The calculator sums the entered bed areas, applies one shared depth, and converts the total to cubic yards and bags. Add or remove zones as you walk the yard; the running total updates as you go.
How the total is calculated
- Area of each bed — length × width for rectangles (measure irregular beds as a set of rectangles and add them).
- Volume — total area × the shared depth in feet (depth ÷ 12).
- Optional buffer — include the allowance only if you select it in the calculator.
- Bags — divide the resulting cubic feet by your bag size (1.5, 2, or 3 cu ft) and round up once for the whole project.
For an odd-shaped bed, split the footprint into measurable rectangles and enter their areas as separate zones. Review overlaps and gaps before deciding whether to include the optional buffer.