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Free estimator
Compost Calculator
Estimate how much compost to spread on beds and lawns. Enter the area, choose a depth, and the calculator returns the cubic yards to order.
Compost Calculator
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All estimates are approximate and should be verified before purchase.
How Deep to Spread Compost
- Top dressing a lawn
- 1/4 to 1/2 inch
- Mulching around established plants
- 1 to 2 inches
- Amending new beds before planting
- 2 to 3 inches, tilled in
- Heavy clay improvement
- 3 inches, worked into the top 6
What One Yard of Compost Covers
- 1 inch deep
- about 324 sq ft per cubic yard
- 2 inches deep
- about 162 sq ft per cubic yard
- 3 inches deep
- about 108 sq ft per cubic yard
Getting the Compost Estimate Right
More is not better
Compost works in thin layers. Two to three inches worked into a new bed is plenty, and piling on more can hold too much water or tie up nutrients. For lawns, a quarter to half inch raked in after aeration does the most good.
Timing
Fall and early spring are the best times to spread compost on beds and lawns. Fall applications have all winter to work into the soil before planting season.
Compost Calculator Questions
How much compost do I need for a garden bed?
Plan on 2 to 3 inches worked into the top 6 inches of soil. At 2 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 162 square feet.
How much compost do I need to top dress a lawn?
A quarter to half inch. At half an inch, one cubic yard covers about 650 square feet.
Can I use compost instead of topsoil?
Not on its own. Compost is an amendment, and it works best blended into existing soil or mixed with topsoil at about one part compost to three parts soil.