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Horse stall bedding

Size a first fill of stall bedding from stall dimensions and depth — then convert to bags using your expanded cubic feet per bag.

When to use

Use this when bedding a new stall or resetting depth after a deep clean. Enter inside length and width, target loose depth, and the expanded volume printed on your shavings or pellet bags.

Rubber mats often let you run a shallower depth. Add a settling allowance if bags compress after spreading.

Calculator

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How this is calculated

Volume is length × width × depth in feet. Inflate by the allowance %, then divide by bag volume.

ft³ = L × W × (depth_in ÷ 12)
ft³_needed = ft³ × (1 + allowance% ÷ 100)
bags = ft³_needed ÷ bag_ft³

Worked example

12 × 12 ft stall, 4 in deep, 10% allowance, 8 ft³ bags:

Base = 12 × 12 × (4/12) = 48 ft³ → with allowance 52.8 ft³ → 6.6 bags (buy 7).

Limits / assumptions

Assumptions: even depth wall-to-wall; bag volume is expanded/loose fill, not compressed package size.

Limits: pellets expand after wetting — confirm manufacturer coverage. Deep-litter systems need different math.

Responsibility: ensure ventilation and ammonia control; this page only sizes material volume.

FAQ

Compressed vs expanded bag size?

Enter the loose cubic feet after opening/fluffing. Compressed package ft³ understates coverage.

How deep with rubber mats?

Many barns run 2–4 in on mats vs 4–6 in on bare floors — follow your barn’s comfort and absorption needs.

Weekly top-up?

Optional planning field only. Actual mucking loss varies with stall time and absorbent type.