Calculators / Mulch
Mulch Calculator
A 10 × 10 ft bed, 3 in deep, needs 25 cu ft of mulch: 0.93 cubic yards or 13 bags of 2 cu ft. One cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at 3 in. Enter your bed below.
How much mulch do you need?
0.71 m³, area 100 sq ft.
How to calculate mulch
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up.
Example: a 10 × 10 ft bed is 100 sq ft. At 3 in deep, 100 × 3 ÷ 12 = 25 cu ft, which is 0.93 cubic yards or 13 bags of 2 cu ft. For a ring around a tree, subtract the bare circle: a 6 ft ring with a 1 ft bare center is 27.5 sq ft.
Mulch needed by area and depth
Cubic yards and 2 cu ft bags.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 yd³ / 5 bags | 0.46 yd³ / 7 bags | 0.62 yd³ / 9 bags |
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 yd³ / 9 bags | 0.93 yd³ / 13 bags | 1.23 yd³ / 17 bags |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 yd³ / 17 bags | 1.85 yd³ / 25 bags | 2.47 yd³ / 34 bags |
| 300 sq ft | 1.85 yd³ / 25 bags | 2.78 yd³ / 38 bags | 3.70 yd³ / 50 bags |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ / 42 bags | 4.63 yd³ / 63 bags | 6.17 yd³ / 84 bags |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ / 84 bags | 9.26 yd³ / 125 bags | 12.35 yd³ / 167 bags |
Common questions
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
One cubic yard is 27 cu ft: 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft (buy 14), 9 bags of 3 cu ft or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
How much does a yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in.
How deep should mulch be?
University of Illinois Extension recommends 2 to 4 in. Thicker layers can mat down and keep water and air from the roots. Keep mulch off tree trunks and the root flare: mulch piled against the bark is one of the most common causes of tree decline (Illinois Extension).
How much mulch do I need around a tree?
Use "Ring around a tree" above and leave a bare circle at the trunk. A 6 ft ring with a 1 ft bare center, 3 in deep, takes 6.9 cu ft: 4 bags of 2 cu ft.
Should I buy mulch in bags or in bulk?
Bags are easy to carry and store for small beds. For large areas, compare a supplier's delivered price per cubic yard with the bag count from the calculator: one cubic yard equals about 14 bags of 2 cu ft.
Should I round up when ordering mulch?
Yes. The calculator rounds bags up, and many suppliers sell bulk mulch in whole or half cubic yards. A little extra is useful for low spots and later touch-ups.
How we calculated this
Volumes use standard geometry: 1 cubic yard is 27 cu ft. Depth guidance comes from University of Illinois Extension. We test the calculator against 155 worked examples, checked with a separate program. Sources.
Results are estimates. Bag sizes vary by brand, so check the label.
Changelog
- : Published.
- : Formulas checked against 155 worked examples, verified with a separate program.
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