Rubber Chippings Coverage Calculator — How Much Do You Need?
Work out exactly how much rubber chippings you need with our free coverage calculators below — enter your length, width and depth and get an instant bulk bag recommendation with pricing.
Standard Rubber Chippings Calculator
For our 10–20mm standard playground rubber chippings — available in black from 300kg to 5,000kg.
Coloured Rubber Chippings Calculator
For our 20mm coloured rubber chippings — select your colour and the calculator links directly to the right variant.
How the coverage calculation works
The quantity depends on three measurements — length, width and depth. Rubber chippings weigh around 20kg per m² at a 50mm depth, so:
- Area (m²) = length × width
- Kg required = area × 20 × (your depth ÷ 50)
The calculators above handle this automatically.
What depth do you need?
For garden borders, pathways and decorative use, 40–50mm gives solid coverage and helps suppress weeds when laid over a permeable membrane. See our guide to installing rubber chippings for ground preparation advice.
For children's play areas beneath equipment, depth is a safety matter governed by BS EN 1177:2018. Required depths increase with the Critical Fall Height (CFH) of the equipment. Always confirm against the supplier's test certificate — decorative chippings are not a substitute for certified impact-attenuating surfacing.
Worked example
Covering a garden play patch 4m × 3m at 50mm depth:
- Area = 4 × 3 = 12m²
- Kg needed = 12 × 20 = 240kg
A 300kg bulk bag covers this comfortably with some to spare for levelling. Use the calculator above for your exact dimensions.
Standard or coloured rubber chippings?
Coverage is identical for both — only the appearance and price differ. Our 10–20mm standard playground rubber chippings are the more economical option; the 20mm coloured rubber chippings are available in 7 shades. Use the relevant calculator above for accurate pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much rubber chippings do I need per square metre?
At a 50mm depth, approximately 20kg per m². Use the calculator above for your specific dimensions.
How much does 1 tonne of rubber chippings cover?
A 1,000kg bulk bag covers roughly 50m² at 50mm depth. Coverage reduces at greater depths.
What depth of rubber chippings should I use?
Around 40–50mm for decorative borders and pathways. For children's play areas, depth is set by the Critical Fall Height — surfacing must be certified to BS EN 1177:2018.
Are rubber chippings suitable as playground safety surfacing?
Decorative rubber chippings are not a substitute for certified fall protection. For fall-from-height areas, choose surfacing certified to BS EN 1177:2018 and obtain the test certificate.