How much wood chips do I need?
Wood chips cover paths, play areas, tree rings, and large planting beds at a low cost.
Enter the length, width, and depth of your area above. The calculator shows cubic yards, cubic feet, an estimated weight in tons, and the number of 2 cubic foot bags if you buy bagged wood chips. Add a price per cubic yard and it also estimates the cost.
Cubic yard calculator for wood chips
This cubic yard calculator for wood chips works for any shape. Pick rectangle for most beds and slabs, circle for round areas, or trench for narrow runs. Open the price estimator under the calculator to add your supplier price, delivery fee, and tax. For a full cost breakdown, see the cubic yard price estimator.
Wood Chips weight and bags per cubic yard
A planning value for wood chips is 500 pounds per cubic yard, which is 0.25 US tons. Moisture, particle size, and compaction move that number, so treat it as a starting point.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Pounds per cubic yard | 500 |
| US tons per cubic yard | 0.25 |
| Kilograms per cubic yard | 227 |
| Cubic yards per US ton | 4.00 |
| Cubic feet per US ton | 108.00 |
| 2 cubic foot bags per cubic yard | 13.5 |
How far does a cubic yard of wood chips go?
Coverage depends only on depth. The deeper the layer, the less area a cubic yard covers. The suggested depth for wood chips is 2 to 4 inches, and 3 inches is a common choice.
| Depth (inches) | Square feet covered | Square yards covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 324 | 36.0 |
| 2 | 162 | 18.0 |
| 3 | 108 | 12.0 |
| 4 | 81 | 9.0 |
| 6 | 54 | 6.0 |
| 8 | 40 | 4.5 |
| 12 | 27 | 3.0 |
Wood Chips needed for common areas at 3 inches deep
| Area | Square feet | Cubic yards | US tons | 2 cubic foot bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 by 5 ft | 25 | 0.23 | 0.06 | 4 |
| 8 by 10 ft | 80 | 0.74 | 0.19 | 10 |
| 10 by 10 ft | 100 | 0.93 | 0.23 | 13 |
| 10 by 20 ft | 200 | 1.85 | 0.46 | 25 |
| 12 by 12 ft | 144 | 1.33 | 0.33 | 18 |
| 15 by 20 ft | 300 | 2.78 | 0.69 | 38 |
| 20 by 20 ft | 400 | 3.70 | 0.93 | 50 |
| 20 by 30 ft | 600 | 5.56 | 1.39 | 75 |
| 30 by 40 ft | 1,200 | 11.11 | 2.78 | 150 |
| 50 by 50 ft | 2,500 | 23.15 | 5.79 | 313 |
Worked example: 30 by 10 feet at 3 inches
The area is 30 feet times 10 feet, or 300 square feet. A depth of 3 inches is 0.25 feet. Volume is 300 times 0.25, which is 75.00 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get 2.78 cubic yards. At 500 pounds per cubic yard that weighs about 0.69 US tons. With 10 percent extra, order 3.06 cubic yards.
Tips for ordering wood chips
- Arborist chip drop services often deliver fresh chips cheaply when your timing is flexible.
- Fresh chips are best for paths, while aged chips suit planting beds.
- Keep chips off the trunks of trees and away from the house foundation.
Wood chips are very light, so one cubic yard weighs far less than one cubic yard of stone or soil.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of wood chips do I need?
Multiply length, width, and depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 30 by 10 foot area at 3 inches deep needs about 2.78 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of wood chips weigh?
About 500 pounds, or 0.25 US tons, as a planning value. Ask your supplier for the exact figure.
How deep should wood chips be?
Most projects use 2 to 4 inches. 3 inches is a common choice.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of wood chips cover?
108 square feet at 3 inches deep, and 324 square feet at 1 inch.
How many bags of wood chips make a cubic yard?
About 14 bags of the 2 cubic foot size, which yields about 2 cubic feet each.