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Compost Calculator for Raised Beds

Compost feeds raised-bed soil. Enter your bed size and the layer depth for cubic yards and bags.

Common sizes
Shape
Units

Area: 100 sq ft

0.7cubic yards

≈ 19 bags1 cu ft each

Bulk is usually sold in ½-yard increments with a ~1-yard delivery minimum — round up when you order.

Show the math
  1. Area100 sq ft
  2. Volume100 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 1216.7 cu ft
  3. Cubic yards16.7 cu ft ÷ 270.6 cu yd
  4. + 10% waste0.6 × 1.100.7 cu ydthe amount to buy in bulk, before rounding to bags
  5. Bags18.3 cu ft ÷ 1 cu ft/bag19 bagsrounded up to whole bags

Est. cost $24–$41typical bulk price · adjust for your supplier

Bags or bulk for this job?

Bulk delivered$160–$2102.0 cu yd (2-yd min) + ~$90 delivery
Bags$95–$17119 × 1 cu ft · haul ~1 pickup load

For this size, bags usually wins.

≈ 6 wheelbarrow loads to spread · delivery fee varies by distance — confirm at checkout.

  • Low-fi estimate. Confirm coverage and bag sizes with your supplier.
  • Includes a 10% overage allowance.
  • Bag count assumes 1 cu ft bags. Bulk delivery is sold by the cubic yard.

Doing more than one bed or material?

Total the whole yard →See it designed
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How to measure for compost

  1. Measure the length and width of your area in feet.
  2. Multiply them for square feet (or just enter length and width above).
  3. Choose a depth — we default to 2 inches for compost.
  4. Read your total in cubic yards, or the number of bags.

Compost for Raised Beds coverage at a glance (2" deep)

Area (sq ft)Cubic yardsBags
1000.719
2001.437
3002.055
5003.492
1,0006.8184

Includes a 10% overage allowance. Estimates are low-fi — confirm with your supplier.

Frequently asked questions

How much compost should I add to a raised bed each year?

Top up with 1–2 inches annually, worked into the surface. Enter your bed size with that depth above.

Can I fill a raised bed with only compost?

It's best mixed with topsoil — pure compost can stay too wet and settle a lot. Aim for roughly a third compost by volume.

Other calculators

Compost for Raised Beds — How Much to Add | GoGarden