Break up an irregular yard
Estimate each roughly rectangular section, add the square footage, and enter the total. Leave out patios, beds, and parts you plan to mulch.
A practical fall yard-cleanup estimate
How many leaf bags do I need?
Turn your yard area and average leaf depth into a clear volume estimate and a realistic bag count. Adjust the bag size, how full you pack it, and the extra margin you want.
Estimate my bagsYard-waste planning tool
Estimate your leaf bags
Your estimate
— bags to plan for
Enter your yard details to see the estimate.
Likely range—bags, including your cushion
Loose leaf volume—cubic yards
Before the extra cushion—bags at your fill level
The range reflects a small change in how tightly the bags are filled.
The estimate, explained
How the leaf bag estimate works
The tool first estimates the loose leaf volume: area × average leaf depth. It then converts cubic feet to cubic yards and gallons, compares that volume with the usable portion of the bag you selected, and rounds up to whole bags. Your extra-bag cushion is added last.
The short version
area (sq ft) × leaf depth (in) ÷ 12 = loose volume (cu ft)
loose volume ÷ usable bag volume × (1 + cushion) = bags to plan for
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet; one cubic foot is about 7.48 gallons. Bag counts are rounded up because partial bags are not useful for a pickup.
Example: a 1,000-square-foot yard
With a typical leaf depth of 2 inches, the loose pile is about 167 cubic feet, or 6.2 cubic yards. A 30-gallon bag packed to 75% of its rated volume holds about 3 cubic feet of leaves, so this example takes about 56 bags before a cushion. Adding 10% gives a planning estimate of about 61 bags. Your actual count can be different if leaves are wet, compacted, or unevenly spread.
Get a closer estimate
Measure once, bag with fewer surprises
Use an average leaf depth
Check several representative spots after raking leaves into a layer. A single deep pile can overstate the yard-wide amount.
Check the bag label and local rules
Bag sizes are nominal, and local collection programs may set limits on bag type, weight, size, or pickup dates. Confirm the rules for your address before setting bags at the curb.
Common questions
Leaf bag estimate FAQs
How many leaf bags does a typical yard need?
There is no single typical count: yard area, leaf depth, bag capacity, and how tightly leaves are packed all matter. For a quick example, 1,000 square feet with a 2-inch leaf layer is about 6.2 cubic yards of loose leaves. The calculator turns that volume into a bag range using your chosen bag size and fill level.
Does the calculator include wet or compacted leaves?
It estimates volume, not weight. Wet leaves can be much heavier and may be harder to lift even when the volume is unchanged. If your bags will be loosely filled, lower the fill percentage; if your measurements are rough, increase the extra-bag cushion.
Can I use the result to plan curbside pickup?
Use the count as a materials estimate only. Collection rules vary by city and service provider, including accepted bag materials, weight limits, seasonal schedules, and whether leaves should be bagged at all. Check your local yard-waste program before pickup day.
This is a volume-planning estimate, not a weight or collection-eligibility check. Results depend on the measurements and packing assumptions you enter.