Turf Roll & Bulk Bag Calculator – Work Out Exactly What You Need
Not sure how much to order? You’re in the right place.
Our free calculator takes the guesswork out of any landscaping project. Ordering natural grass turf rolls? It’ll tell you exactly how many you need. Ordering topsoil, compost, mulch, or wood chips in bulk bags? It’ll work out the volume and bag count for you — no maths required. All our products are delivered free to any mainland UK address.
Helpful Buying Advice
Planning a landscaping project? Our free calculator helps you estimate the quantity of topsoil, compost, mulch, wood chippings and fresh garden turf required for your project. Simply enter your measurements to calculate the number of bulk bags or turf rolls needed, helping reduce waste while ensuring you order with confidence. We deliver quality landscaping supplies throughout mainland UK with free delivery to eligible mainland addresses.
Calculate the area you are turfing and how many rolls of turf you need, then go to our Garden Turf product page to view prices.
You don't need to fill dimensions in all three 'Areas'; they are only there to help there in case you have more than one lawn shape to measure.
rolls of turf
or rolls of turf
(to allow 5% for cutting and shaping)
Easily calculate your requirements for the following bulk bags:
Your calculated volume is Xm3
Your supplied volume will be Xm3
You will need 0 Bag(s)
Calculating Turf Rolls
How many rolls do I need?
Turf is sold in rolls, each covering a set area – typically 1m² per roll. To work out how many rolls you need:
- Measure your lawn – measure the length and width of the area in metres.
- Multiply to get the area – length × width = area in m².
- Add 5–10% for wastage – for cutting around edges, curves, and awkward shapes.
- That’s your roll count – because each roll covers 1m², your area in m² equals the number of rolls to order.
Example: a 6m × 5m lawn = 30m². Add 10% for wastage = 33 rolls. Always round up.
Irregular lawns: Break the area into rectangles, then calculate each section separately, and add the totals together. Our calculator handles this for you.
How to Lay Turf Successfully
- A firm, level surface – rake out any lumps or hollows before laying.
- At least 100mm of good-quality topsoil – 150mm is recommended for the best results.
- Turf to be laid in a staggered brick-bond pattern – never align the joints across rows.
- To water the new turf immediately after laying, and kept moist for the first two to three weeks.
- During hot spells you may need to water the turf as you are laying it, then multiple times per day for at least two to three weeks.
- If you’re unable to lay all of your turf on the day of delivery, it should be rolled out in a shaded area. Never water rolled, stacked turf.
Use the bulk bag calculator below to work out how much topsoil you’ll need under your new turf, and take a look at our article ‘The Foolproof Guide to Laying Turf‘.
Calculating Bulk Bags - Topsoil, Compost, Mulch, Wood Chips and Decorative Aggregates
How to Use the Bulk Bag Calculator
Getting an accurate estimate takes less than a minute:
- Enter your area – measure the length and width of the area in metres.
- Enter your depth – use the depth guide below if you’re unsure how deep to go.
- Get your result – the calculator shows your volume in m³ and the number of bulk bags to order.
- Order with confidence – go to your chosen product, add straight to your basket and we’ll deliver free to your UK mainland address.
Tip: If your garden is an irregular shape, break it into rectangles, calculate each section separately, then add the totals together.
Recommended Depths - Quick Reference Guide
| Project | Product | Recommended Depth |
| Preparing ground for turf | Topsoil | 100 – 150mm |
| Flower borders | Topsoil | 150 – 200mm |
| Raised vegetable beds | Topsoil / Compost | 200 – 300mm+ |
| Mulching borders | Mulch / Compost | 50 – 75mm |
| Garden pathways | Wood Chippings | 50 – 75mm |
| Chicken runs | Wood Chippings | 50 – 75mm |
| Deep litter method for chickens | Wood Chippings | 200 – 300mm |
What does a Bulk Bag cover?
A standard bulk bag holds approximately 500 litres (0.5m³) of material. Here’s approximately how far one bulk bag covers at the most common depths:
Topsoil:
- 5m² at 100mm depth (minimum for new turf preparation)
- 3.3m² at 150mm depth (recommended for new turf preparation)
- 2.5m² at 200mm depth (ideal for borders and raised beds)
Mulch:
- 10m² at 50mm depth
- 6.7m² at 75mm depth
Wood Chips:
- 10m² at 50mm depth (garden paths and borders)
- 6.7m² at 75mm depth (chicken runs and paths)
- 2.5m² at 200mm depth (deep litter method for animal enclosures)
Compost:
- 10m² at 50mm depth (when used as a mulch)
- 2.5m² at 200mm depth (raised beds)
Decorative Aggregates – Gravel, Slate Chippings, Pebbles & Cobbles:
- 12.5m² at 40mm depth (decorative mulch, paths or driveway)
- 10m² at 50mm depth
These are approximate figures. Material density and moisture content can vary slightly.
Why order in Bulk Bags?
Bulk bags (also known as tonne bags, dumpy bags, or jumbo bags) are the most practical and cost-effective way to order topsoil, compost, mulch, and wood chips for most garden projects.
- Better value – significantly cheaper per cubic metre than individual 25kg bags from a garden centre.
- Less packaging waste – one bag that can usually be reused to collect garden waste for example, instead of dozens of smaller sacks.
- Convenient delivery – we can deliver to the majority of the UK mainland.
- Free delivery – on every order, with no minimum spend. Saturday delivery is available with a surcharge.
Our Featured Products
Natural Grass Turf Rolls
Our turf is grown from quality grass seed and supplied as freshly cut rolls, ready to lay. It arrives lush, dense, and ready to root – giving you an established-looking lawn far faster than seeding from scratch.
Best for: new lawns, lawn renovation, patching worn areas, landscaping projects.
Sold as: individual rolls (typically 1m² per roll).
Topsoil
We supply screened topsoil which is ideal for preparing ground before laying turf, filling and improving borders, and topping up raised beds. Screened to 20mm so that it is free from large stones and debris, and ready to use straight from the bag.
Best for: new lawn preparation, raised beds, border improvement, ground levelling.
Sold as: bulk bags and small ‘handy’ bags.
Compost
Peat-free and rich in organic matter, our compost improves soil structure and feeds plants over time. Use it to enrich existing soil or as part of a mix for raised beds and vegetable growing.
Best for: raised vegetable beds, soil improvement, conditioning borders.
Sold as: bulk bags and small ‘handy’ bags.
Mulch
A decorative and functional bark mulch that suppresses weeds, retains soil moisture, and gives your borders a neat, finished look year-round.
Best for: weed control, moisture retention, decorative borders and beds.
Sold as: bulk bags.
Wood Chips
Versatile and long-lasting, our wood chips are ideal for garden paths, woodland planting schemes, and chicken runs.
Best for: garden paths, animal enclosures, woodland gardens.
Sold as: bulk bags.
Free Delivery across the UK Mainland
Every order includes free delivery to any mainland UK address – no hidden charges and no minimum order value. You can select your preferred delivery date at checkout. We now also offer Saturday delivery for a flat fee no matter how much you order.
If you have access restrictions such as a gravel driveway, narrow gate, limited parking give us a call before ordering and we’ll let you know what is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because each turf roll typically covers 1 square metre, the number of rolls you need equals the area of your lawn in square metres. Measure the length and width in metres and multiply them together to get your area. Always add 5–10% extra to allow for cuts at edges, curves, and any awkward corners.
Multiply your area length (metres) by the width (metres), then by the depth (metres). This gives you the volume in cubic metres. Divide by 0.85 — the approximate volume of one bulk bag — and round up to the nearest whole number. Our calculator does this automatically.
A bulk bag – also called a tonne bag, builders bag, jumbo bag, or dumpy bag – is a large woven polypropylene sack typically holding around 500 litres of material. It’s the standard way to order landscaping products such as topsoil, compost, mulch, and wood chips in the UK.
You need a minimum of 100mm of topsoil before laying turf, with 150mm recommended for the best long-term results. At 150mm depth, one bulk bag covers approximately 3.3 square metres. Use the bulk bag calculator to get an accurate figure for your specific lawn area.
Yes, you can add turf rolls and any combination of bulk bag products to the same order, and everything will arrive together in one free delivery. Use the turf calculator and the bulk bag calculator separately, then add all items to your basket before checking out.
Break the lawn into rectangles and measure each section separately. Multiply the length by the width for each section, add all the totals together, then add 10% for wastage. Our calculator has a multi-section tool to help with this.
At the recommended depth of 150mm, one bulk bag of topsoil covers approximately 3.3 square metres. So for a 30m² lawn, you’d need around 9-10 bulk bags. For a 50m² lawn, approximately 15-16 bulk bags. Use the calculator above for your exact area.
At 100mm depth, one bulk bag covers roughly 5 square metres. At 150mm (recommended for turf), around 3.3 square metres. At 200mm (for deep borders and raised beds), approximately 2.5 square metres.
For effective weed suppression and moisture retention, apply mulch at 50–75mm deep. At 50mm, one bulk bag covers approximately 18 square metres. Enter your border dimensions into the bulk bag calculator above to get an accurate figure.
Topsoil is naturally occurring soil that has been screened and graded – it provides structure and a stable growing medium for roots. When purchased in a bulk bag it will be a blend of natural topsoil, and organic matter to provide a nutrient-rich top soil; though it’s worth noting that not all companies selling topsoil will include natural topsoil in their blend – it may just contain sand and compost so it’s worth checking.
Compost is decomposed organic matter that improves nutrient levels and soil condition. For preparing ground before laying turf, topsoil is the right choice. For raised beds and vegetable growing, a mix of topsoil and compost works best though this does depend upon what you intend to grow.
We deliver free to the majority of addresses in the UK mainland, with no minimum order and no delivery surcharge unless Saturday is selected. If you’re unsure whether your address is covered, you can add an item to the basket and enter your postcode at checkout; if we deliver to your area a delivery date will be offered. If it says there are no delivery options available for your address, give us a call and we’ll confirm whether there are other options available.
Yes. All of our topsoil and compost is peat-free, in line with UK government regulations phasing out peat-containing growing media for home gardeners from 2024.
Turf should be laid on the day of delivery in Spring and Summer, and within 24 hours of delivery in Autumn and Winter. Fresh turf is a living, breathing product – leaving it rolled up for longer than this, especially in warm weather, can cause it to rapidly deteriorate. Make sure your ground is fully prepared and ready before your delivery arrives. You could order your turf for delivery on a separate order to your topsoil to give yourself sufficient time to prepare the area before laying; delivery is free on all orders.
For most raised beds, a depth of 200–300mm of growing medium is ideal. Use the bulk bag calculator, enter your bed dimensions, and set the depth to 250mm as a good all-round starting point.
Still Not Sure? We’re Happy to Help.
Our team has years of experience helping homeowners and landscapers get their orders right first time. If you’re unsure which product suits your project, how many rolls or bags you need, or whether we can access your property for delivery — we’re just a call or email away.
Turf roll quantities include a recommended 5–10% wastage allowance for cutting. Bulk bag coverage figures are approximate, based on a standard bag volume of 0.85m³. Actual coverage may vary depending on moisture content and compaction. We recommend rounding up to avoid running short.
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