About The Cubic Yard
Free landscape material calculators and guides for US homeowners
The Cubic Yard was created by a team of hands-on DIY landscapers who were tired of making two trips to the garden center — once because they bought too little mulch, and again to return the extra bags. We built the calculators we wished existed, then added research-backed guides to explain the why behind the numbers.
Our content is written and reviewed by people who have laid mulch, built gravel driveways, and installed landscape fabric on real projects. We research every guide using university extension services (NC State, Penn State, University of Florida IFAS), industry standards (ASTM), and peer-reviewed literature. We update content when better information becomes available.
Our Mission
The Cubic Yard exists to solve one common homeowner frustration: guessing how much mulch, gravel, or topsoil to buy — and either running out mid-project or being stuck with leftover bags.
Our free calculators give you exact quantities in seconds. Our guides explain the reasoning behind the numbers — so you understand what you're ordering, not just how much.
We don't sell materials and don't earn affiliate commissions. Our only revenue comes from display advertising, which means we have no financial incentive to favor one product or supplier over another. Our recommendations follow the consensus of university extension services and professional landscaping organizations.
How We Research Our Content
Our depth recommendations, mulch-around-trees guidance, and termite risk information are based on published research from NC State Extension, Penn State Extension, University of Florida IFAS Extension, and other land-grant university programs. These are the same sources professional landscapers reference.
Safety claims — particularly for rubber mulch — reference ASTM F1292 (Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials) and the CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety. Gravel specifications reference standard construction material grading codes (#57, #411, etc.).
Chemical leaching claims about rubber mulch reference peer-reviewed studies in environmental science journals. We aim to accurately represent scientific consensus, not cherry-pick alarming findings.
All guides display their last update date. We review pricing data each spring and fall to reflect current market conditions. Technical guidance is reviewed annually or when new research is published.
Our Editorial Process
Every guide and calculator on The Cubic Yard follows the same review process before it goes live — and again whenever we update it:
- 1Research from primary sources
We start with university extension publications, ASTM/CPSC standards, and peer-reviewed studies — not other blogs.
- 2Draft with real-world experience
Guides are written by contributors who have actually laid mulch, built gravel driveways, and installed landscape fabric.
- 3Fact-check every claim
Numbers, depths, costs, and safety claims are checked against the cited sources. If a claim can't be verified, it doesn't get published.
- 4Verify the math
Every calculator is tested against hand-worked examples (L × W × D ÷ 27) to confirm results are accurate.
- 5Review and update
Pricing is reviewed each spring and fall; technical guidance is reviewed at least annually or when new research is published. Each page shows its last update date.
All content is published under the editorial responsibility of The Cubic Yard Editorial Team · Last site-wide review: June 2026
Accuracy & Limitations
Editorial Independence
We don't sell landscape materials or earn affiliate commissions from product links. Our only revenue is display advertising. This means our guides have no financial incentive to recommend one product over another.
If you find content that appears inaccurate or biased, please contact us. We review all corrections and update content within two weeks of verified findings.
Contact & Corrections
Found an error? Have a question about our methodology or research? We read every message and respond within 2–3 business days.
Contact Us →Key Sources We Reference
- ›NC State Extension — Mulching Trees and Shrubs
- ›Penn State Extension (2023) — Mulching Landscape Plants
- ›University of Florida IFAS Extension — Landscape Mulches
- ›ASTM F1292 (2022) — Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials
- ›CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (Publication 325)
- ›Mulch and Soil Council — Industry Standards and Certification
- ›USDA Forest Service — Urban Tree Management