Mulch calculator
How much mulch to buy for your beds, in cubic yards for bulk delivery or in 1.5, 2 and 3 cubic foot bags.
- 2 cu ft bags
- 3 cu ft bags
- 1.5 cu ft bags
How to use it
Measure the length and width of each bed in feet, or enter the total area if you already know it. Pick a depth: 3 inches suits most beds. The calculator shows how much mulch that is in cubic yards, which is how bulk mulch is sold, and how many bags of each common size to buy.
For an odd-shaped bed, split it into rectangles, add up their areas, and enter the total.
How it's calculated
- Area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 = cubic feet.
- Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
- Cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up = bags.
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 |
| 3 cu ft | 9 |
One cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 at 2 inches, and 81 at 4 inches.
How deep should mulch be?
| Depth | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 2 in | Topping up last year's mulch |
| 3 in | Most garden beds |
| 4 in | Areas where you want strong weed control |
Keep mulch a few inches back from tree trunks and plant stems. Piling it against them holds moisture against the bark.
Bags or bulk?
Bagged mulch is easy to carry and store. Bulk mulch, delivered or loaded into a truck by the cubic yard, is usually cheaper once you need a few yards. Compare the price of a cubic yard of bulk with 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags to see where the switch makes sense for you.