Mulch Calculator
A cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, so most beds need roughly 1 cubic yard (13.5 two-cubic-foot bags) per 100 square feet.
Mulch is sold loose by the cubic yard and bagged by the cubic foot. Measure your bed, pick a depth, and this calculator converts the volume into yards, bags and an estimated delivered cost.
Mulch calculator
You need
0cubic yards
- Area covered
- 0 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 0
- Weight
- 0 tons
- 2 cu ft bags
- 0 bags
- Estimated cost
- $0
Density of 800 lb/yd³ reflects typical dry shredded hardwood bark. Wet or composted mulch is heavier. Estimates only — confirm with your supplier before ordering.
Mulch coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Yards per 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | 1.54 yd³ |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | 4.63 yd³ |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | 9.26 yd³ |
Mulch questions people actually ask
- How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
- A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags or 9 three-cubic-foot bags to equal one yard. Bulk delivery is almost always cheaper past about 6 bags.
- How deep should mulch be?
- Three inches is the standard for established beds. Use two inches when topping up existing mulch and four inches only where you are fighting persistent weeds. More than four inches can suffocate roots.
- How much does a yard of mulch weigh?
- Dry shredded bark runs about 800 pounds per cubic yard. After heavy rain it can approach 1,200 pounds, which matters if you are hauling it in a half-ton pickup.
- How much area does a yard of mulch cover?
- About 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, and 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep.
Gear for a mulch job
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Related calculators
- Compost CalculatorOne cubic yard of compost topdresses about 650 square feet of lawn at a quarter inch, or fills 108 square feet of bed at 3 inches deep.
- Topsoil CalculatorOne cubic yard of screened topsoil covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep and weighs roughly 1.1 tons.
- Rubber Mulch CalculatorA playground needs 6 inches of rubber mulch for a 6-foot fall height, which is about 40 bags (0.8 cu ft each) per 100 square feet.
- Pine Straw CalculatorOne bale of pine straw covers about 50 square feet at a settled depth of 2 to 3 inches.
How this number is calculated
Density of 800 lb/yd³ reflects typical dry shredded hardwood bark. Wet or composted mulch is heavier. Volume is area × depth, converted to cubic yards by dividing cubic feet by 27. See all our assumptions.