This is a materials-only estimate. It does not include delivery, spreading, labor, edging, landscape fabric, or site prep. See also the Deck Cost Calculator, the House Material Cost Calculator, and the Paint Coverage Calculator for other DIY material estimates.
| Material | Price range | Density | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel / Crushed Stone | $10–$50/ton | 1.4–1.5 tons/cy | HomeGuide, Gravel Prices | written 2025-12-19, opened 2026-09-25 |
| Pea Gravel | $28–$45/ton | 1.4–1.5 tons/cy | HomeGuide, Gravel Prices; bag price, Home Depot (Vigoro 0.5 cu ft, $5.97) | opened 2026-09-26 |
| River Rock | $33–$49/ton | 1.4–1.5 tons/cy | HomeGuide, Gravel Prices; bag price, Home Depot (Vigoro 0.5 cu ft, $6.24) | opened 2026-09-26 |
| Topsoil | $10–$50/cy | ~1.0 ton/cy (dry) | HomeGuide, Topsoil/Fill Dirt/Sand; density, topsoil.com; bag size, Home Depot (Scotts 0.75 cu ft, $3.27) | written 2023-09-08, opened 2026-09-26 |
| Mulch | $25–$100/cy | sold by volume, not weight | HomeGuide, Mulch Prices | written 2025-04-30, opened 2026-09-25 |
| Sod | $0.30–$0.80/sq ft | sold by area | HomeGuide, Sod Prices | written 2025-10-31, opened 2026-09-25 |
This is an educational estimation tool, not a supplier quote. We are not a landscaping contractor or materials supplier. Actual prices vary by region, quantity, and supplier.
Multiply your area in square feet by your depth in inches, divide by 12 to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so multiply your cubic yards by that range to estimate tons. This calculator does that math for you and adds a cost estimate from current market pricing.
Take your total cubic feet needed and divide by the bag size. Bagged gravel, pea gravel, and river rock typically come in 0.5 cubic foot bags. Bagged topsoil typically comes in 0.75 cubic foot bags. Bagged mulch typically comes in 2 cubic foot bags. Buying in bulk by the cubic yard or ton is usually cheaper for anything over a few cubic yards.
A standard pallet of sod covers about 450 square feet. Individual rolls cover about 10 square feet each. Sod is sold by area, not by depth or weight, so this calculator only asks for your square footage for sod.
Material prices vary by region, supplier, and delivery distance. This calculator uses a sourced national price range for each material rather than a single number that would be wrong for most visitors. There is also a field to enter your own supplier's quote per unit if you have one, which overrides the estimated range.