Mulch Calculator
Work out the cubic yards and bags of mulch your beds need.
What you'll need to order
- shredded hardwood mulch
- landscape fabric
- bed edging
Prices vary by region and haul distance. Get quotes from at least two local suppliers.
How this calculator works
cubic yards = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27
One cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches. Bagged mulch comes in 2 cubic foot bags, so 13.5 bags equal one cubic yard.
Worked example
With bed length 10 ft, bed width 10 ft, depth 3 in, this calculator returns 0.93 cu yd.
Mulch coverage by depth
Figures below assume bed length 10 ft × bed width 10 ft. Change any measurement in the calculator to get your own numbers.
| Depth | Mulch needed (cu yd) | 2 cubic foot bags (bags) | Area one yard covers at this depth (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 | 4.17 | 324.0 |
| 2 in | 0.62 | 8.33 | 162.0 |
| 3 in | 0.93 | 12.50 | 108.0 |
| 4 in | 1.23 | 16.67 | 81.00 |
| 6 in | 1.85 | 25.00 | 54.00 |
Per 100 square feet. The last column shows how far a single cubic yard goes at that depth.
How much mulch for a bed, border or tree ring?
| Job | Size | Mulch needed | Material cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree ring, 6 ft across | 6 ft × 6 ft × 3 in | 0.33 cu yd | $10 – $30 |
| Foundation border | 30 ft × 4 ft × 3 in | 1.11 cu yd | $33 – $100 |
| Vegetable garden thinner, so seedlings push through |
20 ft × 10 ft × 2 in | 1.23 cu yd | $37 – $111 |
| Large landscape bed | 40 ft × 12 ft × 3 in | 4.44 cu yd | $133 – $400 |
| Playground surfacing depth set by fall height |
30 ft × 20 ft × 6 in | 11.11 cu yd | $333 – $1,000 |
Bulk mulch is roughly half the price of bagged once you pass about 2 cubic yards — the break-even is usually 12 to 15 bags.
Cost range uses $30–$90 per cubic yard for material only.
What does mulch cost per yard?
Material typically runs $30 to $90 per cubic yard. Bulk, picked up or locally delivered. Bagged mulch works out to roughly $80 to $130 per cubic yard. Spreading by a landscaper adds $20 to $45 per yard.
What moves the price:
- Type — double-ground hardwood is cheapest, dyed and cedar mulches cost more
- Delivery minimums, usually 3 yards, plus a flat haul fee
- Season: spring demand pushes prices up 20% or more
- Bagged versus bulk, which is the single biggest difference
Prices are US averages and move with fuel, season and haul distance. Always get two local quotes before budgeting.
Mulch types and how long they last
| Type | Typical life (years) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shredded hardwood | 2.00 | Knits together, stays put on slopes |
| Dyed hardwood | 2.00 | Holds colour about a year longer |
| Cedar or cypress | 3.00 | Rot-resistant, repels some insects |
| Pine bark nuggets | 3.00 | Floats away in heavy rain or runoff |
| Pine straw | 1.00 | Light; common in the south-east |
| Rubber mulch | 10.00 | Does not decompose, so adds nothing to the soil |
Organic mulches break down and feed the soil, which is why they need topping up. That decomposition is a feature, not a defect.
Mulch quantity questions
How many bags of mulch in a cubic yard?
Thirteen and a half bags of 2 cubic feet. Bulk mulch typically costs a third of the bagged price, so anything over about one yard is worth ordering loose.
How deep should mulch be?
Three inches suppresses weeds and holds moisture without suffocating roots. More than four inches starves the soil of oxygen and encourages roots to grow up into the mulch layer.
How much area does a yard of mulch cover?
One hundred and eight square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 at 2 inches, and 81 at 4 inches. Divide 324 by your depth in inches for a quick answer.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper?
Bulk wins past about 2 cubic yards, which is roughly 15 bags. Below that the delivery minimum and haul fee usually cancel the saving, and bags are far easier to move.
Should I remove old mulch before adding new?
No, unless it has matted into a crust that sheds water. Break up the surface with a rake and top up to 2 or 3 inches total. Stacking fresh mulch on old year after year is how beds end up 6 inches deep and waterlogged.
When should I replace mulch?
Top up annually to keep the depth at 2 to 3 inches. Fully replacing is rarely needed — fluff up the existing layer with a rake and add only what is missing.
Does a yard of mulch fit in a pickup?
A half-ton pickup handles 2 cubic yards of dry bark, one yard if it is wet or if the truck has a short bed. Wet mulch is far heavier than people expect: about 800 lb per yard.
Should mulch touch tree trunks?
Never. Mulch piled against bark traps moisture, rots the trunk and invites pests. Keep it 3 to 6 inches clear of the trunk — the volcano of mulch you see everywhere kills trees slowly.