Mulch Calculator
Enter your bed dimensions and depth to get mulch volume in cubic yards and the number of standard 2 cu ft bags to buy.
Results
- Volume needed
- 1.85 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 2.04 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 50 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 1.42 m³
- 2 cu ft bags
- 28 bags
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Enter your bed dimensions and depth to get mulch volume in cubic yards and the number of standard 2 cu ft bags to buy.
Also used as a mulch yardage calculator and bark/compost coverage calculator.
How to use the mulch calculator
- Enter the shape.
- Enter the length in ft.
- Enter the width in ft.
- Enter the depth in in.
- Enter the waste factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Shape
- Rectangle / Square
- Length
- 20 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 3 in
- Waste factor
- 10 %
Results
- Volume needed
- 1.85 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 2.04 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 50 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 1.42 m³
- 2 cu ft bags
- 28 bags
Using the example values above, the mulch calculator returns 1.85 cu yd (volume needed). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
How deep should mulch be?
Apply 2–3 inches in established beds and up to 4 inches around trees for weed control — but keep mulch a few inches off trunks and stems to prevent rot.
One cubic yard covers about 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches. There are 13.5 standard 2 cu ft bags in a cubic yard, so bulk delivery usually wins once you need more than 6–8 bags.
How much extra should I order?
Always order a little extra. A 5% waste factor suits simple, square projects; 10% is right for most jobs; bump it to 15–20% for irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or uneven ground. Running short almost always costs more than the leftover material.
Mulch depth by use
| Use | Depth |
|---|---|
| Refreshing established beds | 1–2 in |
| New beds | 3 in |
| Weed suppression | 3–4 in |
| Around trees (keep off trunk) | 3–4 in |
Formula
Volume (cu ft) = area × depth ÷ 12. Cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27. Waste-adjusted = volume × (1 + waste%).
Frequently asked questions
- How deep should mulch be?
- Use 2–3 inches for established beds and up to 4 inches for weed suppression around trees.
- How many bags are in a cubic yard?
- There are 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch in one cubic yard.
- How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
- There are 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet mulch in one cubic yard.
- How much does a yard of mulch cover?
- About 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at a 2 inch depth.
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