Concrete, gravel, mulch and soil all come bagged or in bulk. The right choice comes down to volume and access.
When bags win
Bags suit small jobs, tight access, and projects you will tackle over several sessions. They store dry and let you buy exactly what you can carry. For concrete, mixing a few bags by hand is fine for posts and small footings.
When bulk wins
Once you pass roughly one cubic yard, bulk is usually cheaper per unit and far less work. For concrete that means ready mix delivered by the truck. For aggregate, mulch and soil it means a bulk drop. Remember about 45 of the 80 pound concrete bags equal a single cubic yard, and about 13.5 bags of mulch equal a yard.
Work out your volume first. Cubic Yards Calculator →
Common questions
At what point is bulk cheaper than bags?
Roughly one cubic yard, though it varies by material and local pricing. Compare both for your quantity.
How many bags of mulch in a cubic yard?
About 13.5 of the 2 cubic foot bags.
More Calculators
Concrete New
Enter slab dimensions. Result rounds up with a 7 percent waste allowance.
Gravel New
Enter the area dimensions and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent waste allowance.
Mulch New
Enter the bed area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Topsoil New
Enter the area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Paint New
Enter total wall area and coats. Result rounds up to whole units.
Flooring New
Enter room area and the coverage printed on the box. 10 percent waste added.
Tile New
Enter the area and one tile size. 10 percent waste added.
Drywall New
Enter total area to cover. 10 percent waste added.
Paver New
Enter the patio size and one paver size. 5 percent waste added.
Sand New
Enter the area and depth. 5 percent allowance added.
Roofing New
Enter the roof surface area. 10 percent waste added. Three bundles per square.
Insulation New
Enter area to cover and the coverage printed on the package. 5 percent added.
Fence New
Enter total fence length and post spacing.
Sod New
Enter the area to cover. 5 percent allowance added.
Grass Seed New
Enter area and seeding rate. Default rates suit a new lawn.
Fertilizer New
Enter area, target nitrogen rate and the first number on the bag.
Cubic Yards New
Enter length, width and depth. No waste added.
Square Footage New
Enter length and width.
Board Foot New
Enter board dimensions and quantity.
Material Cost New
Enter quantity, unit price, tax and delivery. Figures are in your own currency.