Cubic Yard CalculatorFree online tool
Price estimator

Cubic Yard Price Estimator

Turn cubic yards into dollars with your own price, delivery fee, and sales tax.

Cubic yard price estimator

Price estimator (optional)

Sample price shown. Replace it with the price from your supplier.

How the price estimator works

Enter the size of your area, choose a material, and open the price estimator fields. Type the price per cubic yard that your supplier quoted, or the price per ton if they sell by weight. Add the delivery fee and your local sales tax. The tool multiplies the price by the amount to order, including your waste allowance, then adds delivery and tax.

Sample price: the price filled in above is only a sample so you can see how the tool works. Replace it with the delivered price from your supplier.

Worked example

A mulch bed 20 feet by 10 feet and 3 inches deep is 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards. With 10 percent extra, order 2.04 cubic yards. At a sample price of $40 per yard that is about $81.48 for the material. Add a $50 delivery fee and 7 percent tax on the material and the total is about $137.

What changes the final price

  • The type and quality of the material, such as screened topsoil versus plain fill dirt.
  • Delivery distance, truck size, and any minimum order or short load fee.
  • Whether the supplier sells by the yard or by the ton, and how they weigh the load.
  • Sales tax rules in your area, and whether delivery is taxed.
  • Your own waste allowance. Ordering 10 percent extra raises the cost by 10 percent.

Compare bulk and bagged prices

To compare, find the cost of one cubic yard in bags. A 2 cubic foot bag means 13.5 bags per yard, so multiply the bag price by 13.5. Compare that with the bulk price per yard plus delivery.

Price estimators by material

Concrete Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of concrete with delivery and tax.Mulch Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of mulch with delivery and tax.Gravel Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of gravel with delivery and tax.Topsoil Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of topsoil with delivery and tax.Sand Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of sand with delivery and tax.Dirt Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of dirt with delivery and tax.Fill Dirt Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of fill dirt with delivery and tax.Compost Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of compost with delivery and tax.Crushed Stone Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of crushed stone with delivery and tax.Pea Gravel Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of pea gravel with delivery and tax.River Rock Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of river rock with delivery and tax.Decomposed Granite Cost CalculatorEstimate the cost of decomposed granite with delivery and tax.

Frequently asked questions

How do I estimate material cost?

Multiply the cubic yards you need, including extra, by the price per cubic yard. Then add delivery and tax.

Can I enter a price per ton?

Yes. Pick a material and type the price per ton. The tool uses the planning weight for that material.

Are the sample prices real?

No. They are examples. Use the price from your supplier.

Does the estimator include labor?

No. It covers material, delivery, and tax only.