Build CalculatorsMulch Calculator
Measure each bed, choose a depth, and see how much mulch to buy — in cubic yards for a bulk delivery or in 1.5, 2 and 3 cubic foot bags. Round beds and tree rings work too.
Area
Order
- Total area
- 120 sq ft
- Weight
- 0.35 tons · 700 lb · 318 kg
- Bags of 2 cu ft
- 16
- Bags of 1.5 cu ft
- 21
- Bags of 3 cu ft
- 11
- Estimated cost
- $64.00
At 3 in deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft. Compare a bulk delivery with bags: delivery fees often tip the balance near 1–3 yards.
How to measure your beds
Measure the length and width of each bed in feet. For curved beds, the easiest accurate method is to split the bed into rough rectangles and circles and add each one with Add another bed. For a ring around a tree, use the Circle shape with the diameter of the ring; the trunk itself is too small to matter.
Already know the area — from a landscape plan or the square footage calculator? Use Known area and type it in directly.
The mulch formula
Cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. Dividing by 12 turns inches into feet, and dividing by 27 turns cubic feet into cubic yards; 12 × 27 = 324. For bags, skip the 27: cubic feet = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12, then divide by the bag size.
The default 5% extra covers mulch settling and the edges that always take a little more than planned. Fresh, fluffy mulch settles by as much as a quarter in its first weeks, so if you want a firm 3 inches after a month, spread closer to 3½–4.
Worked examples
200 sq ft × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards, or 50 cubic feet. That is 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 bags of 3 cu ft. Bulk mulch would be two yards — close to the point where delivery becomes worth it.
Area: π × 3² = 28.3 sq ft. Volume: 28.3 × 3 ÷ 12 = 7.1 cubic feet, which is 4 bags of 2 cu ft. Five trees with the same ring need 35 cubic feet, 18 bags — set the quantity to 5.
Bags of mulch by area (2 cu ft bags)
| Area | 2" deep | 3" deep | 4" deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 sq ft | 3 bags | 4 bags | 5 bags |
| 50 sq ft | 5 bags | 7 bags | 9 bags |
| 100 sq ft | 9 bags | 13 bags | 17 bags |
| 150 sq ft | 13 bags | 19 bags | 25 bags |
| 200 sq ft | 17 bags | 25 bags | 34 bags |
| 300 sq ft | 25 bags | 38 bags | 50 bags |
| 400 sq ft | 34 bags | 50 bags | 67 bags |
| 500 sq ft | 42 bags | 63 bags | 84 bags |
Cubic yards of mulch by area and depth
| Area | 2" deep | 3" deep | 4" deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 yd³ | 0.93 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ | 2.47 yd³ |
| 300 sq ft | 1.85 yd³ | 2.78 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 400 sq ft | 2.47 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 4.94 yd³ |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ | 4.63 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ |
| 750 sq ft | 4.63 yd³ | 6.94 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ | 12.35 yd³ |
| 1,500 sq ft | 9.26 yd³ | 13.89 yd³ | 18.52 yd³ |
| 2,000 sq ft | 12.35 yd³ | 18.52 yd³ | 24.69 yd³ |
One yard covers 162 sq ft at 2", 108 sq ft at 3" and 81 sq ft at 4".
How deep to spread mulch
| Project | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flower beds | 2–3 in | Top up 1 in each spring instead of adding a full layer. |
| Shrub borders | 3 in | Keep 2–3 in clear of stems. |
| Tree rings | 2–4 in | Out to the drip line if you can; never pile against the trunk. |
| Weed suppression | 3–4 in | Over cardboard or newspaper for stubborn weeds. |
| Vegetable garden | 2–3 in | Straw or compost, applied once the soil has warmed. |
| Garden paths | 3–4 in | Coarse wood chips hold up best underfoot. |
| Playground | 9–12 in | Loose wood chips; the depth US playground safety guidance uses. |
Mulch, soil and stone weights
Weight matters when you haul it yourself. Mulch is light; topsoil is nearly four times heavier per yard, and stone is heavier still — for decorative rock or gravel beds, switch to the gravel calculator, which sells by the ton.
| Material | lb / cu ft | lb / cu yd | tons / cu yd | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (general, 3/4") | 104 | 2,800 | 1.4 | Driveways, drainage, sub-base |
| Pea gravel | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | Paths, play areas, between pavers |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | Drainage, concrete sub-base |
| Crusher run / road base | 111 | 3,000 | 1.5 | Compactable base for driveways and pavers |
| River rock | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | Decorative beds, dry creek beds |
| Decomposed granite | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | Paths and patios, compacts firm |
| Sand (dry) | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | Paver bedding, leveling, play sand |
| Topsoil | 81 | 2,200 | 1.1 | Lawns, raised beds, grading |
| Fill dirt | 74 | 2,000 | 1 | Filling holes and low spots |
| Compost | 37 | 1,000 | 0.5 | Soil amendment, top dressing |
| Mulch (shredded hardwood) | 22 | 600 | 0.3 | Flower beds, around trees |
| Wood chips / playground chips | 19 | 500 | 0.25 | Paths, playgrounds |
| Concrete (wet, normal weight) | 150 | 4,050 | 2.03 | 150 lb per cubic foot |
| Asphalt (hot mix, compacted) | 145 | 3,915 | 1.96 | 145 lb per cubic foot |
Related calculators
- Concrete CalculatorCubic yards and 40, 60 or 80 lb bags for slabs, footings, columns and steps.
- Concrete Slab CalculatorSlab concrete, bag count, rebar grid and gravel base for patios and driveways.
- Gravel CalculatorCubic yards and tons of gravel, crushed stone or road base for any area.
- Square Footage CalculatorArea of rooms, lots and odd shapes in sq ft, sq yd, m² and acres, with cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch, 9 bags of 3 cu ft, or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft. Round up when buying: 14 of the standard 2 cu ft bags replace one yard of bulk mulch.
How much area does a yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches. The rule is 324 divided by the depth in inches.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches is right for most flower beds and shrubs, and three to four inches if weed control is the main goal. More than four inches can starve roots of air and keep the soil too wet. Pull mulch two or three inches back from tree trunks and plant stems instead of piling it against them.
How many bags of mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
At 3 inches deep, 100 sq ft needs 100 × 3 ÷ 12 = 25 cubic feet: 13 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft. At 2 inches it needs 17 cubic feet, which is 9 bags of 2 cu ft.
Is bagged or bulk mulch cheaper?
Per cubic yard, bulk mulch is usually much cheaper than the 13.5 bags it replaces, but delivery often adds a flat fee. Below about two yards, bags are typically cheaper overall; above three yards, bulk delivery almost always wins. Bags are easier to carry to backyard beds and keep longer in storage.
How much does a yard of mulch weigh?
Shredded hardwood mulch weighs roughly 400–800 lb per cubic yard depending on moisture; this calculator uses 600 lb. Wet, freshly ground mulch can approach 1,000 lb. A half-ton pickup can carry one to two yards of dry mulch comfortably.