If you’ve ever stood in your garden wondering how many trailer loads of soil or gravel you need, you’re not alone! Estimating the right amount of landscape material can be confusing, especially when suppliers talk in cubic metres and you’re thinking in wheelbarrows or Ute loads. Let’s break it down so you can order with confidence and avoid running short, or over-ordering.
What is a cubic metre?
A cubic metre is simply a cube that measures 1 metre long by 1 metre wide by 1 metre high. Think of it as a big box. This is the standard measurement used by landscape suppliers to price and load materials like soil, mulch, gravel, and sand.
How many wheelbarrows in a cubic metre
We get asked this question every day. It depends on the size of your wheelbarrow but as a general guide a standard one is 65 litres. You will need to load and push around 15 loads to move 1 cubic metre of soil. A commercial wheelbarrow is 100 litres and will require 10 loads to move 1 cubic metre. Look at the garden or area you are working with, and this will help you to estimate how many loads of soil you will need.
How many cubic metres can a trailer hold?
Most standard box trailers are around 6x4 feet (1.8m x 1.2m) and can safely carry about .5 cubic metres of sand or soil, due to its weight. If you are transporting lighter material such as mulch or bark it can take about .75 cubic metres.
If you’re using a smaller trailer, remember that heavy materials like gravel or road base can quickly exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity. Always check your trailer and car’s weight limits before loading up.
How to calculate how much you need
To estimate how many cubic metres you’ll need, use this simple formula:
Length (m) × width (m) × depth (m) = volume (m³)
For example, if you are topdressing a lawn area of 10m x 5m to a depth of 0.05m (5cm), 2.5m³ of soil will be required.
It’s always a good idea to round up slightly to allow for settling and compaction.
Weight matters: soil vs gravel
The weight of your landscaping material impacts how much you will get per cubic metre. Soil or garden mix is roughly 1.2 tonnes per cubic metre, whilst sand weighs 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre. Materials such as gravel and road base weigh 1.7-2 tonnes per cubic metre.
Knowing the weights will help when comparing delivery costs and deciding if you can pick it up yourself or organise for tipper delivery.
In the Northern Rivers climate, gardens thrive year-round, but rain events and soil types can vary from Lismore to Byron or Ballina. Ordering locally means your soil or gravel is suited to the region’s unique conditions. Our friendly team can advise on the best mix for drainage, lawns, or garden beds.
We’re happy to help calculate exactly what you need and arrange quick, local delivery direct to your property or site.