Bringing compost into your garden or lawn is a great way to make soil better. It helps plants grow stronger and healthier. But how much does this magic soil helper cost? If you’re planning a big project, you might ask, “How much is a yard of compost?” A yard of compost, technically a cubic yard, is a common way to buy larger amounts. Figuring out the cost means looking at where you buy it, what kind it is, and if you need it delivered.
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Grasping What a Yard Means
When people talk about buying a “yard” of soil or compost, they don’t mean 3 feet in a straight line. They mean a measure of space called a cubic yard.
What is a Cubic Yard of Compost?
A cubic yard is a cube shape that is 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet high. Think of it like a big box that is 3 feet on all sides. This box holds a lot of material. A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet (3 x 3 x 3 = 27). This is the standard unit used by many places that sell soil products in large amounts. Buying by the cubic yard is often cheaper than buying many small bags if you need a good amount. You usually see the cubic yard compost price listed by garden centers or landscape suppliers.
The Value of Compost
Compost is like food for your soil and plants. It adds important things plants need to grow well. It helps sandy soil hold water better. It makes clay soil less hard and sticky, allowing roots and water to move freely. Using compost makes soil richer over time. It helps good bugs and tiny living things in the soil do their jobs. It can even help fight plant diseases. Adding compost is one of the best things you can do for your garden’s health and plant growth without using man-made chemicals.
What Shapes the Price?
The cost of compost isn’t the same everywhere or for every type. Several things change the final price you will pay. Knowing these helps you understand the costs better.
Different Kinds, Different Costs
Not all compost is made the same way. The stuff used to make it changes the price. Some composts are more expensive because of what’s in them or how they are made.
Common Compost Types
- Yard Waste Compost: This is made from leaves, grass clippings, and small branches. It’s often the most common and can be less expensive. Its quality can vary depending on the source.
- Manure Compost: This comes from animal waste, like cow, chicken, or horse manure. It must be fully composted to be safe for plants. It’s rich in nutrients. Its compost per yard cost might be a bit higher than simple yard waste.
- Mushroom Compost: This is a special mix used by mushroom farms. After the mushrooms are grown, the spent mix becomes compost. It often contains things like straw, manure, peat moss, and other organic stuff. Mushroom compost price per yard can be different depending on what’s in it and your location. It is known to be very good for soil.
- Vermicompost: This is made by worms eating organic waste. It’s very rich and high quality but often made in smaller amounts. It is usually the most expensive type. You might not find this sold by the cubic yard in most places.
- Compost Blends: Some suppliers mix compost with other things like topsoil or sand to make special mixes for gardens or lawns. The price depends on what’s in the mix.
Screened or Not Screened?
When compost is made, it can have bigger pieces in it like sticks or rocks. Screening is a process that sifts the compost to remove these larger bits. This makes the compost finer and more even.
- Screened Compost: This is smoother and easier to work with. It’s great for top-dressing lawns or mixing into garden beds where you want a fine soil texture. The cost of screened compost is usually higher than unscreened compost. This is because screening takes extra work and special machines. You are paying for the better quality and ease of use.
- Unscreened Compost: This compost still has larger pieces in it. It’s often cheaper. It can still be good for adding to large areas or for improving soil far below the surface where the texture doesn’t matter as much.
Buying Bulk or Bags?
This is one of the biggest choices and affects the price a lot. You can buy compost in small bags or in large amounts called bulk.
- Bagged Compost: This is what you see at garden stores or hardware shops in plastic bags, usually 1 or 2 cubic feet each. It’s easy to pick up and use for small jobs or containers. You don’t need a truck or a big space to store it. However, buying this way is much more expensive per cubic yard. You pay for the bags, the packaging, the marketing, and the convenience.
- Bulk Compost: This is sold loose by the cubic yard (or sometimes half a yard). You usually need a truck to pick it up, or you pay for delivery. The bagged compost vs bulk cost difference is huge. Buying in bulk is much cheaper per cubic foot or cubic yard. If you need more than about 10-15 bags, buying in bulk often saves you money, even with delivery fees.
Think of it like buying sugar. A small bag is cheap per bag, but buying a 25-pound bag is much cheaper per pound.
Getting it Home
Unless you have a big truck and are picking up the compost yourself, you will likely pay for delivery. This adds to the total cost. The bulk compost delivery cost depends on a few things:
- Distance: How far the supplier is from your home. Most places charge per mile or have zones with fixed prices.
- Amount: Sometimes, delivering more material at once costs less per yard for delivery. They might have a minimum delivery fee or require a minimum purchase amount for delivery.
- Delivery Method: Is it dumped on your driveway? Placed with a special truck arm? Simple dumping is standard.
Delivery can add anywhere from $30 to $150 or more to your order, depending heavily on distance. Always ask about delivery fees when getting a cubic yard compost price.
Location and Season
Where you live matters. In areas where compost materials are easy to get and there are many suppliers, prices might be lower. In areas where resources are scarce or transportation is expensive, prices will be higher. Prices can also change a little bit with the seasons, sometimes being lower in the off-season or higher during the busiest spring gardening time.
Cost Ranges Revealed
It’s hard to give one exact price for a yard of compost because of all these factors. But we can look at typical ranges.
Average Compost per Yard Cost
Generally, the compost per yard cost when bought in bulk can range quite a bit.
- You might see prices from $20 to $50 per cubic yard for basic yard waste compost or standard blends at a local municipal facility or basic landscape yard.
- Higher quality screened compost or specific mixes could be $30 to $70 per cubic yard.
- Specialty composts might be even higher.
These prices are without delivery. Delivery costs are added on top.
How Much is Mushroom Compost?
Mushroom compost price per yard tends to be in the mid to high range compared to basic yard waste compost.
- Expect to pay somewhere from $30 to $60 per cubic yard for bulk mushroom compost.
- Again, this price varies by supplier, screening, and location.
Many gardeners love mushroom compost for its nutrient richness, so the slightly higher cost can be worth it for better results.
Cost for Landscaping Use
When you buy landscaping compost cost might refer to compost used for larger beds, lawn top-dressing, or building up areas. This compost is often bought in bulk. The price will fall into the general ranges mentioned above ($20-$70 per yard) depending on the type and quality. If you are getting a blend specifically made for landscaping, the price might be towards the higher end of this range.
Compost Compared to Others
Sometimes you might wonder if you should buy compost, topsoil, or garden soil. They are different, and their prices reflect this.
Topsoil or Compost?
Topsoil vs compost price shows a difference in what they are and how they are used.
- Topsoil: This is the top layer of earth. It might be simply dug up and sold. Good topsoil has some organic matter, but it can also have clay, sand, or silt. Its quality varies a lot. Good screened topsoil is useful for filling holes, building beds, or grading.
- Compost: This is decayed organic matter. It’s not soil itself but an amendment added to soil. It’s very rich in nutrients and improves soil structure.
Prices for topsoil also vary. Good screened topsoil might cost anywhere from $10 to $50 per cubic yard in bulk.
- Often, basic topsoil is cheaper than compost per yard.
- However, you use compost differently. You don’t replace all your soil with compost. You add a layer or mix it in.
- Compost gives more value in terms of nutrients and soil structure improvement per volume than basic topsoil does.
It’s like comparing a multivitamin (compost) to just eating dirt (topsoil). You need dirt, but the multivitamin makes it much better.
Garden Soil Costs
Garden soil price per yard refers to mixes often sold for filling raised beds or containers. These mixes are usually a blend of topsoil, compost, and sometimes other things like peat moss or perlite.
- Because garden soil is a blend, it’s often more expensive than just topsoil or just compost bought separately.
- Prices for bulk garden soil mixes can range from $25 to $75 or more per cubic yard, depending heavily on the quality and ingredients of the mix.
These mixes are convenient, but you can often save money by buying screened topsoil and quality compost separately and mixing them yourself.
Here is a simple table comparing average bulk costs (without delivery):
| Material | Typical Bulk Cost Per Cubic Yard | Main Use | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Topsoil | $10 – $30 | Filling, Grading | Volume, Base layer |
| Screened Topsoil | $20 – $50 | Filling, Building Beds | Smoother, Easier to work with |
| Yard Waste Compost | $20 – $40 | Soil improvement, Nutrients | Adds organic matter, Cheaper |
| Screened Compost | $30 – $70 | Soil improvement, Top-dressing | Fine texture, Easy to mix/spread |
| Mushroom Compost | $30 – $60 | Soil improvement, Nutrients | Nutrient-rich, Good structure |
| Garden Soil Mix | $25 – $75+ | Raised Beds, Containers | Ready-to-use blend |
Note: These are general ranges. Actual prices vary greatly.
Figuring Out How Much You Need
Before you order, you need to know how much compost do i need. Buying too little means another trip or delivery fee. Buying too much means wasted money and a big pile to deal with.
How Much Compost Do I Need?
To figure out how much compost you need, you must know the size of the area you want to cover and how deep you want the compost layer to be. Compost is usually added in a layer on top or mixed into the top few inches of soil. A common amount is a 1-inch to 3-inch layer.
Easy Calculation Steps
Here’s a simple way to figure out the cubic yards needed:
- Measure the Area: Find the length and width of your garden bed, lawn area, or planting space in feet. Multiply length by width to get the square footage.
- Area (square feet) = Length (feet) x Width (feet)
- Decide the Depth: Choose how many inches deep you want the compost layer to be. A common depth is 1 to 3 inches.
- Convert Depth to Feet: You need depth in feet for the calculation. Divide the desired inches by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot).
- Depth (feet) = Desired Inches / 12
- Calculate Total Cubic Feet: Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet.
- Volume (cubic feet) = Area (square feet) x Depth (feet)
- Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards: There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. Divide the total cubic feet by 27.
- Volume (cubic yards) = Volume (cubic feet) / 27
Round up to the nearest half or whole yard when ordering to make sure you have enough.
Example Projects
Let’s do a few examples:
Example 1: Small Garden Bed
- Your garden bed is 10 feet long and 5 feet wide.
- You want a 2-inch layer of compost mixed in.
- Area = 10 feet x 5 feet = 50 square feet.
- Desired Depth = 2 inches.
- Depth in feet = 2 inches / 12 = 0.167 feet (about).
- Volume in cubic feet = 50 sq ft x 0.167 ft = 8.35 cubic feet.
- Volume in cubic yards = 8.35 cubic feet / 27 = 0.31 cubic yards (about).
For this project, a half cubic yard would be plenty. A full cubic yard would be more than you need.
Example 2: Top-Dressing a Lawn Area
- You have a lawn section that is 30 feet long and 20 feet wide.
- You want a thin 1-inch layer of compost (often called top-dressing).
- Area = 30 feet x 20 feet = 600 square feet.
- Desired Depth = 1 inch.
- Depth in feet = 1 inch / 12 = 0.083 feet (about).
- Volume in cubic feet = 600 sq ft x 0.083 ft = 49.8 cubic feet.
- Volume in cubic yards = 49.8 cubic feet / 27 = 1.84 cubic yards (about).
For this lawn area, you would need about 2 cubic yards of compost.
Example 3: Filling a Raised Bed
- Your raised bed is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 1 foot (12 inches) deep. You want to fill it mostly with compost or a compost mix.
- Area = 8 feet x 4 feet = 32 square feet.
- Desired Depth = 12 inches.
- Depth in feet = 12 inches / 12 = 1 foot.
- Volume in cubic feet = 32 sq ft x 1 ft = 32 cubic feet.
- Volume in cubic yards = 32 cubic feet / 27 = 1.18 cubic yards (about).
You would need about 1.5 cubic yards to fill this bed. You might choose a garden soil mix (which contains compost) for this type of project. The garden soil price per yard would apply here.
Using this method helps you get close to the right amount, avoiding waste or needing a second order.
Where to Find Compost
You have a few choices when it comes to buying compost:
- Local Landscape Supply Yards: These places sell soil, mulch, stone, and compost in bulk. They are great for buying by the cubic yard and often offer delivery. They usually have a few different types of compost and screened options.
- Nurseries and Garden Centers: Some larger nurseries sell bulk compost. Smaller ones might only sell bagged compost.
- Municipal or County Compost Facilities: Some towns or counties make compost from local yard waste. They might sell it to residents, sometimes at a lower price or even for free (though you might have to load it yourself). The quality can vary.
- Compost Producers: Dedicated businesses that make large amounts of compost. They often sell in bulk.
- Big Box Stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s): These stores mainly sell bagged compost. They are not typically places to buy by the cubic yard in bulk, though some may sell bulk bags larger than standard retail size.
Calling ahead to ask about types, prices (including cubic yard compost price and bulk compost delivery cost), and availability is always a good idea.
Making Your Own Compost
An alternative to buying compost is making it yourself. This uses kitchen scraps and yard waste. It takes time (months to a year), effort (turning the pile), and space. The “cost” is mainly your labor and time. If you have a lot of organic waste, making your own can save money in the long run and is good for the environment. However, it’s hard to make large volumes quickly, so buying is often necessary for bigger projects.
Summing Up the Costs
Let’s put it all together to get an idea of the total cost for a project requiring, say, 3 cubic yards of screened compost.
- Compost Type: Screened Compost
- Amount: 3 cubic yards
- Assumed Price per Yard: $45 (This is in the mid-range for screened compost)
- Assumed Delivery Cost: $60 (This depends on distance, could be less or much more)
Calculation:
- Cost of Compost = Amount x Price per Yard
- Cost of Compost = 3 cubic yards x $45/cubic yard = $135
- Total Cost = Cost of Compost + Delivery Cost
- Total Cost = $135 + $60 = $195
So, for this example, the total cost is $195. Remember, changing the type of compost (e.g., to mushroom compost or basic yard waste compost) or the delivery distance will change the final price.
If you bought the same amount (3 cubic yards) in bags (assuming bags are 1.5 cubic feet and cost $5 each):
- Volume of one bag = 1.5 cubic feet
- Number of bags in 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet / 1.5 cubic feet/bag = 18 bags
- Number of bags needed = 3 cubic yards x 18 bags/cubic yard = 54 bags
- Cost per bag = $5
- Total Cost = Number of bags x Cost per bag
- Total Cost = 54 bags x $5/bag = $270
This simple comparison highlights the bagged compost vs bulk cost difference. Buying in bulk is often significantly cheaper for larger amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does one cubic yard of compost weigh?
The weight of a cubic yard of compost varies. It depends on how wet it is and what it’s made of. Dry, finished compost is lighter. Wet compost is much heavier. A typical range is between 800 and 1,500 pounds per cubic yard. Wet compost can be even heavier. This is important if you plan to pick it up in a truck, as vehicles have weight limits.
Is cheaper compost okay to use?
Cheaper compost can be fine for some uses, like improving large areas or mixing into poor soil. However, it might contain more large pieces (if unscreened) or have fewer nutrients than higher-quality composts. For top-dressing or important garden beds, paying a bit more for screened, nutrient-rich compost is often worth it for better results and easier spreading. Ask the supplier what materials are in the compost and if it’s been screened.
How deep should I spread compost?
For top-dressing lawns, a thin layer of 0.25 to 0.5 inches is common. For improving garden beds, mix in a layer 1 to 3 inches deep into the top 6-8 inches of existing soil. For filling new raised beds, you might use a higher ratio of compost mixed with topsoil, possibly needing a 6 to 12-inch depth of the mix.
Can I mix different types of compost?
Yes, mixing different composts is usually fine and can even be good. It brings together different nutrients and organic materials, creating a more diverse soil amendment.
How much is a cubic foot of compost?
If a cubic yard costs $40, a cubic foot would cost $40 divided by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in a yard). $40 / 27 = about $1.48 per cubic foot. This shows how much more expensive bagged compost is, as a 1.5 cubic foot bag for $5 is like paying $3.33 per cubic foot ($5 / 1.5)!
Final Thoughts
The cubic yard compost price is not a fixed number. It changes based on the type of compost, its quality (like if it’s screened), whether you buy bulk or bagged, where you live, and if you need delivery. Basic bulk compost might cost $20-$50 a yard, while screened or specialty compost could be $30-$70 or more, plus delivery fees which add $30-$150+.
Buying in bulk is almost always cheaper per yard than buying bags if you need more than a small amount. Knowing how much compost do i need is key to ordering the right amount and managing your project costs. While there’s a cost involved, the long-term benefits of adding compost to your soil – healthier plants, less need for chemical fertilizers, and better soil structure – often make it a valuable investment for any gardener or landscaper. Good compost is food for your soil, and healthy soil grows happy plants!