How Much Is A Cubic Yard Of Compost? Your Pricing Guide.

So, how much is a cubic yard of compost? Generally, the cost of a cubic yard of compost can range from about $15 to $75 or more, not counting delivery. This average cost cubic yard compost changes a lot based on where you buy it, the quality, and if you get it delivered. Compost cost per yard is usually the cheapest way to buy a large amount.

Getting the right amount of compost for your garden or yard project is key. A cubic yard is a big amount. It’s like a box that is 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet tall. This amount is enough to cover a decent-sized garden bed or improve soil over a larger area. Knowing the bulk compost price helps you plan your budget for landscaping compost price. Let’s break down what affects the cost and how to find the best deals on compost.

How Much Is A Cubic Yard Of Compost
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What is a Cubic Yard of Compost?

Picture a standard pickup truck bed. A full cubic yard of compost often fills one of these up nicely. It’s a large pile of material.

Why buy in cubic yards? If you need a lot of compost for:

Starting a new garden.
Improving soil across your whole lawn.
Filling raised beds.
Major landscaping work.

Buying in bulk compost price by the cubic yard is much cheaper than buying many small bags. You save money on how much does compost cost per yard this way.

Things That Change the Price of Compost

The price you pay for a cubic yard of compost isn’t fixed. Many things make the compost cost per yard go up or down.

Quality of the Compost

Not all compost is the same. High-quality compost is made well. It uses the right materials. It has been fully broken down. It’s often screened to remove large chunks or trash.

Basic Compost: Might be made from yard waste or general organic stuff. It’s often cheaper. It might contain some larger pieces.
Screened Compost: This compost has been sifted. It’s fine and easy to work with. It usually costs a bit more.
Organic Compost: Made from only organic materials. It does not have chemicals or non-organic stuff. Bulk organic compost price can be higher because of the materials used and the process to certify it.
Specialty Blends: Some places mix compost with topsoil, sand, or other things. These blends cost more than plain compost. Landscaping compost price for specific mixes can be higher.

Better quality means a higher average cost cubic yard compost. But better compost works better in your soil.

Where the Compost Comes From

The source matters.

Local Composting Facilities: Often a good place to buy bulk compost price. They process local waste. Prices can be very good here.
Garden Centers: They might sell bulk compost. Prices could be mid-range.
Landscaping Supply Yards: These places sell many bulk materials, including compost. They are set up for bulk sales. Landscaping compost price is a common term here.
Bagged Compost Retailers (buying bulk equivalent): If you try to buy enough bags to equal a yard, the cost will be much, much higher.

Buying direct from a large facility is usually cheaper per yard.

The Materials Used

What goes into the compost affects its quality and price.

Compost from manure might smell stronger but be rich in nutrients.
Compost from yard waste is common and often affordable.
Compost from food scraps (like municipal programs) can be nutrient-dense.
Compost with specific ingredients for certain plants can cost more.

Bulk organic compost price is higher because the source materials must be certified organic.

How Much Compost You Buy

Suppliers often give a lower price per yard if you buy more yards at once.

Buying 1-2 yards might have a base price.
Buying 5-10 yards might get a slightly lower price per yard.
Buying very large amounts (for farms or big projects) gets the lowest prices.

This is why getting bulk compost price is best for big jobs.

Your Location

Compost prices near me depend on your area.

Prices are higher in areas where resources (like space for composting) or transport costs are high.
Rural areas with local farms might have cheaper compost.
Costs of labor and running the business in your area affect the price.

Checking compost prices near me from several local suppliers is important.

Delivery or Pickup

Getting compost delivered adds cost. This is the compost delivery cost.

Picking it up yourself is free, but you need a truck or trailer. A cubic yard is heavy (often 700-1200 pounds).
Delivery costs depend on the distance from the supplier to your location.
There’s often a base delivery fee plus a cost per mile.
Some places have minimum order sizes for delivery.

The cost of a yard of compost delivered includes the compost price and the delivery fee.

Comparing Bagged vs. Bulk Compost

This is a big one when looking at how much does compost cost per yard.

Bagged Compost

Size: Sold in small bags, often 1 cubic foot or 2 cubic feet. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. So, you need 27 one-cubic-foot bags or about 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags to equal one yard.
Cost: Bags cost roughly $3 to $10 per bag. Let’s say $5 per bag.
- To get 27 cubic feet (1 yard) using $5 bags: 27 bags * $5/bag = $135.
Cost per cubic foot: $5 / 1 cubic foot = $5 per cubic foot.
Cost per cubic yard: $135 per cubic yard (equivalent).
Pros: Easy to transport small amounts, convenient for small jobs or adding just a little here and there, easy to store.
Cons: Very expensive per cubic foot or yard, creates a lot of plastic waste.

Bulk Compost

Size: Sold by the cubic yard. Loaded directly into your truck/trailer or delivered in a dump truck.
Cost: Ranges from $15 to $75+ per cubic yard. Let’s use an average of $30 per yard (before delivery).
- Compost cost per yard: $30.
Cost per cubic foot: $30 / 27 cubic feet = about $1.11 per cubic foot.
Cost per cubic yard: $30 per cubic yard.
Pros: Much cheaper per cubic foot/yard, less waste, good for large projects.
Cons: Need a truck/trailer or pay for delivery, need space to dump a large pile, harder to handle and move around the yard than small bags.

Let’s look at the bagged vs bulk compost price difference in a table:

Feature	Bagged Compost	Bulk Compost
Typical Unit	1-3 cubic foot bag	1 cubic yard (27 cubic feet)
Cost Per Bag	~$3 – $10	N/A
Equivalent Cost Per Yard	~$80 – $270+ (27 bags @ $3-$10)	~$15 – $75+ (excluding delivery)
Cost Per Cubic Foot	~$3 – $10	~$0.55 – $2.80+ (based on $15-$75)
Best For	Small jobs, patching, containers	Large gardens, new beds, soil spread
Transport	Car trunk, easy carry	Truck/trailer or delivery
Waste	Many plastic bags	Minimal (none if picked up)

As you can see, the bulk compost price is significantly lower per cubic yard than buying the same amount in bags. This is why people buy in bulk for bigger jobs.

Deciphering Delivery Costs

If you can’t pick up compost yourself, you’ll pay for delivery. This is a major part of the cost of a yard of compost delivered.

How Delivery is Calculated

Delivery fees are usually based on:

A flat fee: A base cost for the truck and driver’s time.
Distance: An extra charge per mile or per zone from the supplier to your home.
Quantity: Sometimes the fee goes up slightly for very large loads (multiple cubic yards), though usually it’s a flat fee per trip regardless of the first few yards.

Typical Delivery Fees

Compost delivery cost varies a lot.

Local delivery within a few miles might be $30 – $60.
Delivery 10-20 miles away could be $50 – $100 or more.
Longer distances will cost more.

Some suppliers have free delivery if you order a very large amount (like 10+ yards), but this is rare for home gardeners buying just a few yards.

Minimum Order for Delivery

Most suppliers require a minimum order size for delivery. This is often 2-4 cubic yards. They won’t send a big dump truck out for just one yard. If you only need one yard and can’t pick it up, you might have to pay the minimum delivery fee anyway, or find a supplier who allows smaller deliveries (though this might be more expensive per yard).

The cost of a yard of compost delivered is the compost price per yard plus the delivery fee spread across the number of yards. If you order 3 yards at $40/yard ($120 total) and delivery is $60, the total is $180. The effective cost per yard delivered is $180 / 3 yards = $60 per yard.

Average Cost Ranges for a Cubic Yard of Compost

Putting it all together, here are some typical ranges for the average cost cubic yard compost:

Basic/Unscreened Bulk Compost (Pickup): $15 – $30 per cubic yard. This is the lowest compost cost per yard.
Screened Bulk Compost (Pickup): $25 – $45 per cubic yard. Better quality, slightly higher price.
Bulk Organic Compost (Pickup): $30 – $60 per cubic yard. Higher quality materials, possibly certified. This is the bulk organic compost price.
Specialty Mixes (Pickup): $40 – $75+ per cubic yard. Blends with topsoil or other materials. This falls under landscaping compost price.

Now, adding delivery:

Basic Bulk Compost (Delivered, short distance, 3+ yards): Compost cost ($15-$30) + Delivery cost (~$30-$60 / 3 yards = $10-$20 per yard). Total: ~$25 – $50 per yard delivered.
Screened Bulk Compost (Delivered, average distance, 3+ yards): Compost cost ($25-$45) + Delivery cost (~$60-$100 / 3 yards = $20-$33 per yard). Total: ~$45 – $78 per yard delivered.
Bulk Organic Compost (Delivered, longer distance, smaller order): Compost cost ($30-$60) + Delivery cost (~$80-$120 / 2 yards = $40-$60 per yard). Total: ~$70 – $120+ per yard delivered.

These are rough numbers. Your actual cost of a yard of compost delivered or picked up will depend on the specific supplier and your location.

Finding Compost Prices Near You

The best way to know compost prices near me is to check local sources.

Search Online: Use terms like:
- “bulk compost [Your Town/Zip Code]”
- “compost delivery [Your Town/Zip Code]”
- “landscaping supply yard [Your Town/Zip Code]”
- “organic compost bulk [Your Town/Zip Code]”
- “mulch and soil suppliers [Your Town/Zip Code]”
Check Local Composting Facilities: Many cities or counties have facilities that process local yard waste. They often sell the finished compost back to residents. Prices are usually very good here.
Contact Landscaping Supply Yards: Call or visit places that sell mulch, stone, and soil in bulk. They are set up to sell by the cubic yard. Ask for their compost cost per yard and compost delivery cost.
Ask at Garden Centers: While they mostly sell bagged goods, some larger garden centers might sell bulk compost or know local suppliers.
Community Forums/Groups: Ask local gardening groups online or in person. They can recommend suppliers and give you an idea of compost prices near me.

When you contact suppliers, always ask:

What is the compost cost per yard?
What types of compost do you have (screened, organic, etc.)? What is the bulk organic compost price?
What is the minimum amount for delivery?
What is the compost delivery cost to my address?
What is the cost of a yard of compost delivered (including delivery fee)?
Can I come and see the compost before I buy?

Tips for Buying Bulk Compost

Calculate How Much You Need: Don’t guess. Measure the area you want to cover and decide how deep you want the compost layer (e.g., 2 inches, 4 inches). Use an online calculator or formula to figure out cubic yards. (Area in square feet * Depth in feet / 27 = Cubic Yards).
Order the Right Amount: Order slightly more than you think you need (maybe 10-15% extra). It’s better to have a little leftover than run short and have to pay another delivery fee for a tiny amount.
Check the Quality: If possible, go look at the compost before you buy, especially if you’re buying a large amount. Good compost smells earthy, not sour. It should be dark and crumbly, not clumpy or full of big sticks and trash.
Plan the Delivery Spot: Where will the truck dump the compost? Make sure the spot is accessible for a large truck and is where you want the pile. You will have to move it from there.
Know the Weight: Remember, a cubic yard is heavy. Be prepared to move it with a wheelbarrow and shovel. Ask the supplier the approximate weight per yard so you know what to expect.
Factor in Delivery: Always get the full cost of a yard of compost delivered if you need delivery. Don’t just look at the price per yard. Sometimes a slightly higher price per yard from a closer supplier is cheaper overall due to lower delivery costs.
Ask About Blends: If you need soil for raised beds or planting, ask about compost-topsoil blends. These are often easier to use than pure compost in large volumes and might be considered part of the landscaping compost price options.

Grasping Compost Quality

The quality of compost really does matter for your plants and soil.

Maturity: Good compost is “finished” or mature. This means the organic matter has fully broken down. Unfinished compost can actually hurt plants as it keeps breaking down and uses up nitrogen from the soil. Mature compost looks uniform and dark.
Nutrient Content: The nutrients in compost come from the materials it was made from. Compost from manure and food scraps is usually higher in nutrients than compost from just leaves and wood chips.
pH Level: Compost helps balance soil pH, but the compost itself should have a neutral or slightly alkaline pH (around 6.0 to 8.0).
Freedom from Contaminants: Quality compost should not have weed seeds, pathogens (bad germs), or physical contaminants like plastic bits, glass, or metal. Screening helps remove physical contaminants. Proper composting temperatures kill weed seeds and pathogens. Bulk organic compost price often reflects stricter controls on inputs to avoid contaminants.

Don’t just go for the lowest compost cost per yard. Consider the quality. Cheap, poor-quality compost might not help your garden, or worse, it could introduce problems.

Uses for a Cubic Yard of Compost

What can you do with a cubic yard of compost? A lot!

Amending Garden Beds: Mix 2-4 inches of compost into the top 6-8 inches of soil in vegetable gardens or flower beds. One cubic yard can cover roughly 80-160 square feet at a 2-4 inch depth.
Topdressing Lawns: Spread a thin layer (1/4 to 1/2 inch) over your lawn. This adds nutrients and improves soil structure. A cubic yard can cover about 650-1300 square feet of lawn. This falls under landscaping compost price use for lawns.
Filling Raised Beds: Raised beds need a lot of material. A typical 4ft x 8ft raised bed filled 10 inches deep uses about one cubic yard of soil/compost mix.
Planting Trees and Shrubs: Use compost as part of the backfill mix for planting holes.
Starting New Gardens: If you’re creating a new garden area, you might add several inches of compost across the whole area and mix it in.

Knowing the average cost cubic yard compost helps you budget for these projects.

The Role of Location in Pricing

Let’s look more closely at how compost prices near me are set.

Cost of Raw Materials: What is available locally for composting? Is there a lot of free yard waste? Are manure sources nearby? The cost of getting the stuff to compost matters.
Processing Costs: Grinding, turning piles, screening, testing – these all cost money. Labor, equipment, and energy play a role.
Demand: In areas with many gardeners or landscapers, demand for compost is high, which can push prices up.
Competition: If there are many compost suppliers in an area, competition can keep prices lower. If there’s only one main supplier, prices might be higher.
Transportation Infrastructure: How easy or hard is it for trucks to get to and from the composting site and to customers? This affects compost delivery cost.

It’s always worth checking multiple suppliers within a reasonable distance to compare compost cost per yard and compost delivery cost. Don’t forget to ask about the bulk organic compost price if organic is important to you.

Avoiding Hidden Costs

When figuring out the cost of a yard of compost delivered, watch out for:

Fuel Surcharges: Delivery prices might go up if fuel costs are high.
Taxes: Sales tax might apply to the compost and/or the delivery fee.
Loading Fees: Most bulk yards load your truck for free, but confirm this.
Unloading Issues: Make sure the delivery spot is clear and easy for the truck to access. If they have trouble, there could be extra fees (though this is rare).
Minimum Yardage for Price: Make sure you understand if the low compost cost per yard you see is for a minimum order much larger than you need.

Get a clear total price including all fees before you order. This gives you the true cost of a yard of compost delivered.

Is It Worth It?

Buying compost by the cubic yard is almost always worth it for projects needing more than a few bags worth (say, more than 5-10 bags). Even with compost delivery cost, the bulk compost price is significantly lower per unit volume.

Think of the time and money you save by buying in bulk:

Fewer trips to the store.
Less money spent overall on material.
Less plastic waste from bags.
Having enough material to truly improve your soil.

Using compost improves soil structure, adds nutrients slowly, helps soil hold water, and supports helpful microbes. This leads to healthier plants and better yields. The investment in bulk compost price pays off in the long run for your garden.

FAQ: Common Questions About Bulk Compost

Q: How much does compost cost per yard on average?

A: The average cost cubic yard compost is typically between $15 and $75, not including delivery. Quality and location are big factors.

Q: What is the `bulk compost price`?

A: Bulk compost price refers to the price per cubic yard when buying in large quantities. This is the price listed by suppliers selling by the yard. It’s much cheaper per yard than buying bags.

Q: What is the `compost delivery cost`?

A: Compost delivery cost is the fee to have bulk compost trucked to your location. It usually includes a base fee plus a charge based on distance. It can range from $30 to $150 or more depending on how far away you are.

Q: How does `bagged vs bulk compost price` compare?

A: Buying compost in bags is much more expensive per cubic yard than buying in bulk. You might pay $80-$270 (or more) for enough bags to equal a yard, while a yard of bulk compost might cost $15-$75.

Q: Where can I find `compost prices near me`?

A: Search online for local landscaping supply yards, composting facilities, or garden centers that sell in bulk. Call them to ask for their current compost cost per yard and delivery fees.

Q: What is the `cost of a yard of compost delivered`?

A: This is the sum of the compost cost per yard plus the delivery fee, potentially divided by the number of yards delivered if the fee covers the trip. For example, a $40/yard compost delivered with a $60 fee for a 3-yard load makes the cost of a yard of compost delivered effectively $60 per yard ($120 compost + $60 delivery = $180 total / 3 yards).

Q: Is `bulk organic compost price` higher?

A: Yes, bulk organic compost price is often higher than standard compost. This is because of the cost of sourcing certified organic materials and the processes needed to meet organic standards.

Q: How much is `landscaping compost price`?

A: Landscaping compost price can refer to general bulk compost prices, or specifically to prices for compost blends used in landscaping, like compost-topsoil mixes. These blends often cost $40-$75+ per cubic yard before delivery.

Q: How many bags of compost equal a cubic yard?

A: There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. So, you need 27 one-cubic-foot bags or about 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags to make a cubic yard.

Q: How much area does a cubic yard of compost cover?

A: A cubic yard covers about 324 square feet 1 inch deep, 162 square feet 2 inches deep, or 81 square feet 4 inches deep.

Q: Is picking up compost cheaper than delivery?

A: Yes, picking up compost avoids the compost delivery cost, making the compost cost per yard your only expense for the material itself. You just need a suitable vehicle.