Wood chips are commonly used in landscaping for weed suppression, moisture retention, and aesthetic appeal. For large-scale projects, accurately determining the volume and weight of the material is necessary for efficient planning.
Visualizing the Volume of Twenty Cubic Yards
A single cubic yard is a measure of volume, representing the space of a cube three feet wide, long, and high (27 cubic feet). This volume is often compared to the size of a standard washing machine. Twenty cubic yards totals 540 cubic feet.
Visualizing this quantity helps prepare the delivery area. Twenty cubic yards is roughly equivalent to the volume delivered by a large dump truck, or the amount that would fill ten to twelve standard pickup truck beds. This significant mound requires a clear, stable space for offloading.
Factors Influencing the Total Weight
Wood chips are purchased by volume, but weight governs transportation logistics. The weight of twenty cubic yards is highly variable, depending primarily on moisture content and wood type. Wood chips generally weigh between 400 and 800 pounds per cubic yard, meaning a 20-cubic-yard load ranges from 8,000 to 16,000 pounds (4 to 8 tons).
Moisture is the greatest variable, as freshly chipped wood retains high water content, making it heavier than aged chips. Wet chips can absorb significant water, sometimes increasing a single cubic yard’s weight to over 1,000 pounds. A fully saturated 20-cubic-yard load could approach 10 tons.
The density of the wood species also influences weight; hardwoods like oak weigh more than softer woods like pine. Since most delivery trucks have weight limitations, knowing this range is important for delivery planning. A 4-ton load is manageable for many commercial vehicles, while a 10-ton load might require a larger vehicle or multiple delivery runs.
Calculating the Coverage Depth and Area
The practical application of twenty cubic yards requires translating that volume into a usable coverage area based on the desired depth. One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at a depth of one inch. Therefore, 20 cubic yards can cover 6,480 square feet at a one-inch depth.
A one-inch layer is often too thin for effective landscaping, so coverage area decreases as depth increases. A common depth for aesthetic mulching and moisture retention is two inches, meaning 20 cubic yards covers approximately 3,240 square feet. For robust weed suppression or new installations, a three-inch depth is frequently recommended, reducing the total coverage area to about 2,160 square feet.
Specific applications require different depths, which directly impacts coverage. Certified playground chips, for instance, are often applied in layers of six to nine inches to meet safety standards for fall height attenuation. At a six-inch depth, 20 cubic yards covers approximately 1,080 square feet. Project planning requires using a formula where the area in square feet multiplied by the depth in inches is divided by 324 to determine the required cubic yards.
Understanding the Total Cost and Delivery Fees
The total cost for twenty cubic yards of wood chips includes two primary components: the material cost and the delivery fees. The unit price per cubic yard varies widely based on the type, quality, and whether the material is natural or dyed. Raw or single-ground chips are generally less expensive than double-shredded or colored mulches.
The total material cost is the unit price multiplied by 20, often subject to volume discounts for large quantities. Delivery costs are calculated either as a flat fee per trip or a tiered rate based on distance. If a supplier offers “free” delivery, this cost is usually incorporated into the material’s unit price, making it important to compare the final delivered price per yard.