Mulch calculator
Cubic yards and bags of mulch for a bed, over the mulch already there.
A 10 × 20 ft bed 3 in deep needs 1.85 cubic yards of mulch: 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 bags of 3 cu ft.
Measure the bed
You need
50.0 ft³ · 1.42 m³
Your shopping list
Bags
17 bags of 3 cu ft (85 L)
or 25 bags of 2 cu ft (57 L)
Bulk, by the yard
1.85 yd³m³
Delivered or picked up at a landscape supplier
Type your bag price and your price per cubic yard to see which is cheaper.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How it is calculated
- Area of the bed10 ft × 20 ft = 200 ft²
- Volume at the depth to add200 ft² × 3/12 ft = 50.0 ft³
- Cubic yards50.0 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³
- Bags, rounded up50.0 ÷ 3 ft³ = 17 bags
Mulch for common bed sizes
3 in deep, the usual depth for a new bed.
| Bed | yd³ | 2 cu ft bags | 3 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft² | 0.23 | 4 | 3 |
| 50 ft² | 0.46 | 7 | 5 |
| 100 ft² | 0.93 | 13 | 9 |
| 150 ft² | 1.39 | 19 | 13 |
| 200 ft² | 1.85 | 25 | 17 |
| 300 ft² | 2.78 | 38 | 25 |
| 400 ft² | 3.70 | 50 | 34 |
| 500 ft² | 4.63 | 63 | 42 |
| 750 ft² | 6.94 | 94 | 63 |
| 1,000 ft² | 9.26 | 125 | 84 |
2 in deep
| Bed | yd³ | 2 cu ft bags | 3 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft² | 0.15 | 3 | 2 |
| 50 ft² | 0.31 | 5 | 3 |
| 100 ft² | 0.62 | 9 | 6 |
| 150 ft² | 0.93 | 13 | 9 |
| 200 ft² | 1.23 | 17 | 12 |
| 300 ft² | 1.85 | 25 | 17 |
| 400 ft² | 2.47 | 34 | 23 |
| 500 ft² | 3.09 | 42 | 28 |
| 750 ft² | 4.63 | 63 | 42 |
| 1,000 ft² | 6.17 | 84 | 56 |
How much one yard or one bag covers
| Depth | 1 yd³ | 2 cu ft bag | 3 cu ft bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² | 24 ft² | 36 ft² |
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 12 ft² | 18 ft² |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 8 ft² | 12 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 6 ft² | 9 ft² |
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch make a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 14 bags of 2 cu ft (27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, rounded up) or 9 bags of 3 cu ft.
How much mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
At 3 inches deep, 100 ft² takes 25.0 cubic feet: 0.93 cubic yards, 13 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft.
How deep should mulch be?
Michigan State University Extension says 2 to 3 inches is enough, and only a 1 inch top-dressing if last year's mulch is still there. Utah State suggests 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch and 2 to 3 inches of stone.
How much does a yard of mulch cover?
108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 ft² at 2 inches and 324 ft² at 1 inch. The rule: 324 ÷ depth in inches.
There is old mulch in the bed: how much do I add?
Type the depth already there in "Mulch already there": the calculator only counts the difference. Topping 100 ft² from 2 to 3 inches takes 8.3 cubic feet, 5 bags of 2 cu ft.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bags or in bulk?
It depends on your local prices and the delivery fee. Type the price of one bag and the price per cubic yard (plus delivery) in the calculator: it compares both for your bed.