Garden guide
Bulk Bag vs Handy Bags: Which Is Better Value?
The short version
Per litre, a bulk bag (around 730L) is usually 30–50% cheaper than the same material in handy 25–75L bags. But delivery charges, access and leftovers can flip the answer.
Do the per-litre maths
Divide the price by the litres. A £90 bulk bag holding 730L is about 12p per litre; a £4.50 handy bag holding 25L is 18p per litre. Every calculator on this site shows both options side by side and flags the cheaper one automatically.
When handy bags win
Small top-up jobs (a few bags beat a £40 delivery fee), tight access with no room for a crane offload, or when you need several different materials in modest amounts.
The delivery trap
Bulk bags arrive on a pallet by crane-offload lorry — they need solid, level ground near the kerb and clear access. If the driver can't drop it sensibly, you'll be rebooking. Handy bags go in a car boot or a courier van.
Weight warning
A bulk bag of topsoil or gravel weighs around 850–1,000kg. Don't plan to barrow it far on a hot day — get it dropped as close to the job as possible.