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Pine Straw Calculator

Estimate how many pine straw bales you need for a given area, plus cost and delivery loads. Adjust coverage and bale size if your supplier uses different packaging.

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Estimated bales needed
$0
Estimated material cost
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Area (sq yd)

Typical coverage is often expressed as square feet per bale. If you’re installing thicker for weed suppression, coverage per bale goes down.

Enter your coverage area

If you have bed dimensions, use length × width for each bed and sum them. You can also estimate from a site plan.

  • Area: enter square feet (or acres).
  • Coverage per bale: typical range 40–60 sq ft (depends on thickness and bale density).
  • Price per bale: optional, for cost estimate.
  • Delivery: optional, estimate loads if your supplier delivers by the truckload.

Quick rule of thumb

A “standard” bale often covers about 50 sq ft at a moderate spread depth.

If you spread thicker (better weed suppression and longer life), assume closer to 35–45 sq ft per bale. For a thinner “freshen up” layer, 55–70 sq ft per bale may be enough.

Beds
Paths
Trees
Erosion areas

Inputs

Use either sq ft or acres — we’ll convert.
If you enter acres below, you can leave this blank.
1 acre = 43,560 sq ft.
Adjust for your preferred spread thickness.
$
If supplier delivers by the load/truck.
Accounts for uneven beds, slopes, and touch-ups.

Install tips

  • Install on a calm day to reduce blow-off.
  • Weed first, then apply a consistent layer (avoid bare spots).
  • Keep straw away from plant crowns to reduce rot risk.
  • Steeper slopes often need thicker coverage or netting.

Results

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Area (sq ft)
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Area (sq yd)
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Bales (incl. overage)
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Delivery loads (if provided)
$0
Estimated cost (if price provided)

Want a bulk/retail toggle, pine needles vs longleaf vs slash, or an option to estimate thickness in inches? I can add that next.

Assumptions

This calculator uses a simple coverage-per-bale method. Coverage varies by bale size, needle length, moisture, installation thickness, and site conditions.

Item Default Notes
Coverage per bale 50 sq ft Moderate spread depth
Overage / waste 10% Touch-ups + variability
Area conversion 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft Standard