Question 1

How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12, then divide by 27. MetreMate gives you the square footage off the plan, then you apply the depth. A 480 sq ft bed at 3 in deep is 480 x 3 / 12 = 120 cubic feet, and 120 / 27 = 4.44 cubic yards, so quote 4.5 yards.

Question 2

How much does a yard of mulch cover?

Accepted Answer

One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in. That is 324 divided by the depth in inches. MetreMate gives you the bed area off the plan, so a 324 sq ft bed at 2 in needs 324 / 162 = 2 yards.

Question 3

How deep should mulch be?

Accepted Answer

Most beds get 2 to 4 in of mulch. Depth drives the load more than anything else, so confirm it before you quote. A 162 sq ft bed at 2 in is 1 cu yd, and the same bed at 4 in is 162 / 81 = 2 yards. MetreMate gives you the square footage, then you apply the depth.

Question 4

How do I measure curved beds accurately?

Accepted Answer

Trace the curve with closely spaced points, or use the Arc tool, instead of squaring the bed off. Accuracy then comes down to calibration. Set the scale off a known dimension on the plan, which matters on engineer-scale site plans where a small scale error grows across a big yard. MetreMate gives you the true square footage of the curved shape, so the load is not a yard off.

Question 5

How do I quote sod from a plan?

Accepted Answer

Trace the lawn areas and quote sod by the square foot. Pallet coverage varies by grower and region, so ask your farm for its pallet coverage and divide the lawn area by it. MetreMate gives you the lawn square footage off the plan, then you apply the farm's figure and add for cuts along curved edges and around beds.

Question 6

Is it free to start?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is a free plan with no credit card, plus a 7-day trial of the paid features. MetreMate runs in any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer, so there is nothing to install on the counter computer. Pro and Team plans are there when you need more, and Team is billed per seat so everyone at the counter can quote from the same plans.

Mulch, soil, stone and sod quantities from the plan

The slow way, or the smart way

Everything you can measure off the plan

Lengths in linear feet

Areas in sq ft

Perimeters

Counts

How landscape supply yards use MetreMate

Areas by material

Square feet to cubic yards

Pavers and edging

More than measuring

Auto Scale

Manual Scaling

Auto Snap

Layers Manager

Print & Share

Project Organizer

Questions landscape supply yards ask

MetreMate works for every supplier

Ready to quote faster, landscape supply yards?