The Fred Burrows Material Calculator is a handy online tool designed to help individuals and professionals calculate the volume of materials required for landscaping and construction projects. This calculator is particularly useful when you need to determine how much mulch, topsoil, or gravel to purchase for your project. By inputting the length, width, and depth of the area you want to cover, the calculator provides you with the cubic feet and cubic yards of material needed.
The Formula of Fred Burrows Material Calculator
To understand how the calculator works, let’s take a closer look at the formula it uses:
Length (in feet) × Width (in feet) × Depth (in inches) ÷ 12 = Cubic Feet
Now, you might be wondering why we divide by 12. The depth is typically provided in inches, but we need the result in feet to ensure consistency with length and width measurements. Dividing by 12 converts the depth from inches to feet, allowing us to calculate the cubic feet accurately.
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards (since these materials are often sold by the cubic yard), you simply divide the cubic feet by 27. It’s as straightforward as that!
A Handy Table for Quick Reference
| Project Size | Length (Feet) | Width (Feet) | Depth (Inches) | Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Garden Bed | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7.5 | 0.28 |
| Medium Lawn | 20 | 10 | 4 | 66.67 | 2.47 |
| Large Driveway | 60 | 12 | 8 | 720 | 26.67 |
Example of Fred Burrows Material Calculator
Let’s consider an example to put this into practice. Suppose you have a garden bed with a length of 10 feet, a width of 4 feet, and you want to add 3 inches of mulch. Using the formula mentioned earlier, you can calculate the volume:
Length (in feet) × Width (in feet) × Depth (in inches) ÷ 12 = Cubic Feet
(10 × 4 × 3) ÷ 12 = 10 cubic feet
And to find the equivalent in cubic yards:
Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards
10 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 0.37 cubic yards
So, for your garden bed, you’ll need approximately 10 cubic feet or 0.37 cubic yards of mulch. Simple, right?
Most Common FAQs
Cubic feet and cubic yards are both units of volume, but they differ in scale. A cubic yard is equivalent to 27 cubic feet. So, if you have a large project, it’s more convenient to work with cubic yards, whereas smaller projects might use cubic feet.
The calculator provides a good estimate for rectangular or square areas. For irregular shapes, it’s best to divide the area into smaller sections with regular shapes, calculate the volume for each section, and then sum them up.