You need
- 25.0cu ft
- 0.71m³
- 25–38%of the soil, dug in
Prices: what landscape yards and garden centers post, October 2026.
- You need 0.93 cubic yards of compost to cover 100 sq ft, 3 in deep.
- Dig it into the top 8 to 12 in of soil. Then compost is about 25% to 38% of the soil.
- In bulk, it costs about $31 to $68. Delivery adds about $40 to $140.
- In bags, that is 25 bags of 1 cu ft, about $129 to $395.
Text this to a landscape yard
Hi! I need about 0.93 cubic yards of compost, delivered. What would it cost, with delivery?
How much compost to use
It depends on the job. Dig it in for a new bed or lawn. Spread a thin layer on top each year after that.
| Job | Compost | Dig it in | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| New garden bed | 3 to 4 in7.6 to 10.2 cm | top 8 to 12 intop 20.3 to 30.5 cm | |
| Garden bed, each year | ¼ to 1 in0.6 to 2.5 cm | No, leave it on top | |
| New bed for trees and shrubs | 3 to 4 in7.6 to 10.2 cm | top 6 to 8 intop 15.2 to 20.3 cm | |
| New lawn | 1 to 2 in2.5 to 5.1 cm | top 4 to 6 intop 10.2 to 15.2 cm | |
| Top-dress a lawn | ¼ to ½ in0.6 to 1.3 cm | No, leave it on top |
Oregon State EM 9308 (all jobs). Lawns: Penn State and Ohio State say the same.
How far compost goes
One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft when it is 1 inch deep. A 1 cu ft bag covers 12 sq ft at 1 inch.One cubic meter covers 100 sq m when it is 1 cm deep.
| Depth | 1 cubic yardcubic meter covers | A 1 cu ft bag covers |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ in0.6 cm | 1,296 sq ft166.7 sq m | 48 sq ft4.72 sq m |
| ½ in1.3 cm | 648 sq ft76.9 sq m | 24 sq ft2.18 sq m |
| 1 in2.5 cm | 324 sq ft40 sq m | 12 sq ft1.13 sq m |
| 2 in5 cm | 162 sq ft20 sq m | 6 sq ft0.57 sq m |
| 3 in7.5 cm | 108 sq ft13.3 sq m | 4 sq ft0.38 sq m |
| 4 in10 cm | 81 sq ft10 sq m | 3 sq ft0.28 sq m |
Oregon State says the same: a 1 cu ft bag covers 12 sq ft at 1 in.
Can you use too much compost?
Yes. Oregon State says too much compost lets plant food wash out of the soil. It can end up in streams and lakes.
Clemson says more than half compost in the soil can hurt plants.
Compost made from manure or mushrooms can be salty. Salt can hurt seeds and young plants. Water it well after you spread it.
Do not fill a raised bed with compost alone. Mix it with soil.
How the math works
- Area. Length times width. For a circle, half the width times itself, times 3.1416. One meter is 3.28084 feet.
- Size of the pile. Area in sq ft times the depth in inches, divided by 12, gives cubic feet. Cubic feet divided by 27 gives cubic yards.
- Bags. Cubic feet divided by the bag size, rounded up.
- Share of the soil. Say you spread 3 in and dig it into the top 12 in. Then 3 of those 12 inches are compost. That is 25%. This is our math.
- Prices. What yards post for bulk compost, $33 to $73 a cubic yard. Bags: what stores post, $5.15 to $15.80 a cu ft. We leave out the cheapest and dearest tenth. We add the delivery fee, $40 to $140, to bulk before we say which costs less.
Questions
How much compost do I need?
For a new garden bed, 3 to 4 inches, dug in. That is about 1 cubic yard for every 100 sq ft at 3 in. For a bed you already have, ¼ to 1 inch a year.
How much compost for a lawn?
For a new lawn, 1 to 2 inches, tilled into the top 4 to 6 inches. To top-dress a lawn, ¼ inch. That is about 21 cu ft for 1,000 sq ft.
How many bags of compost are in a yard?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That is 27 bags of 1 cu ft, or 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft.
How much does a yard of compost cost?
About $33 to $73 a cubic yard, from what landscape yards post (October 2026). Delivery costs extra. Bags cost about $5.15 to $15.80 a cubic foot.
How much compost per year on a garden?
Oregon State says ¼ to 1 inch a year on beds you already have. One inch is the most.
Sources
- Oregon State Extension EM 9308, How to use compost in gardens and landscapesFeb 2021, reviewed 2025Depths for each job; 1 cu ft covers 12 sq ft at 1 in; too much compost
- Penn State Extension, Using Composts to Improve Turf Performance1997New lawn 1 to 2 in, mixed 4 to 6 in deep; top-dress ¼ in; salt
- Ohio State HYG-4031, Natural Organic Lawn CareJun 2017Top-dress ¼ in: about 21 cu ft for 1,000 sq ft
- Clemson HGIC 1655, Soil ConditioningDec 2023More than 50% organic matter may hurt plants
- WSU Extension Whatcom County, Using Compost as a Soil AmendmentundatedRates by use, a check on the others