Mulch Calculator
Cubic yards of mulch for beds, trees and paths. Three inches is the standard depth for weed suppression; two for a refresh over last year’s layer. Bags are rounded up — the yard sells bulk by the half yard.
Order 1.0 yd³ — bulk mulch is sold by the ½ yard; a pickup holds about 2 yd³.
- Area
- 100 ft²
- Volume (25.0 ft³)
- 0.93 yd³
- Weight @ 0.40 t/yd³
- ≈ 0.4 tons
- Waste
- + 0.00 yd³
- Order quantity
- 0.93 yd³
- Truckloads
- 1 × dump load (≈10 yd³)
- Metric
- 0.71 m³
- 2 ft³ bag
- 13 bags
- 3 ft³ bag
- 9 bags
- Materials + delivery$25–$60 / yd³ · Sep 2026
- $100 – $135
- Installed (with labor)typ. $147
- $119 – $186
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
What will this mulch job cost?
See the installed price range for these quantities and get up to 3 quotes from local contractors. Free, no obligation.
Common bed sizes, answered
- How Much Mulch for a 4×8 Bed?32 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 5×10 Bed?50 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 5×20 Bed?100 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 8×8 Bed?64 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 10×10 Bed?100 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 10×20 Bed?200 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 10×30 Bed?300 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 12×12 Bed?144 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 15×20 Bed?300 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 20×20 Bed?400 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 20×40 Bed?800 ft²
- How Much Mulch for a 30×30 Bed?900 ft²
How to calculate mulch by hand
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 · 2 ft³ bags = ft³ ÷ 2
Worked example
- Area: 20 ft × 5 ft = 100 ft².
- Volume: 100 ft² × (3 in ÷ 12) = 25 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³ → order 1 yd³ bulk.
- Bagged: 25 ÷ 2 = 12.5 → 13 × 2 ft³ bags, or 25 ÷ 3 = 8.3 → 9 × 3 ft³ bags.
- 1 yd³ of mulch at 3″
- ≈ 108 ft²
- 1 yd³ of mulch at 2″
- ≈ 162 ft²
- 1 yd³ in 2 ft³ bags
- 13.5 bags
- 1 yd³ hardwood mulch
- ≈ 800 lb
Questions crews ask
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 ft³, so it takes 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags or 9 three-cubic-foot bags. Round up — you cannot buy half a bag. Above about a yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper than bags.
How much does a yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard covers 108 ft² at 3 inches deep, 162 ft² at 2 inches, and 81 ft² at 4 inches. Multiply your bed’s square footage by depth in inches and divide by 324 to get yards.
How deep should mulch be?
Three inches for new beds and weed suppression, two inches when topping up an existing layer, and up to four inches around trees — but keep it 3–4 inches away from trunks and stems so bark can breathe.
How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?
Dry shredded hardwood is 600–900 lb per cubic yard; wet it can hit 1,000 lb. Pine bark is lighter at 500–700 lb; rubber mulch is 1,200 lb or more. A half-ton pickup safely carries about two yards of dry wood mulch.
Bulk or bagged mulch?
Bagged runs $3–$6 per 2 ft³ bag, which is $40–$80 per cubic yard. Bulk is $25–$60 per yard plus a $50–$100 delivery fee, so bulk wins above roughly 2–3 yards. Bagged is easier for small beds and lets you buy exactly the colour you see.