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Mulch Calculator

Mulch in cubic yards and bags for any bed depth.

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At every depth

DepthCubic yards2 ft³ bagsSuits

Two mulching mistakes worth avoiding

Going too deep. Two to three inches suppresses weeds and holds moisture. Much beyond that can starve roots of oxygen and hold too much water against them.

Volcano mulching. Piling mulch against a trunk traps moisture against the bark and invites rot, pests and girdling roots. Leave a few inches of clear space around the base of every tree and shrub.

Mulch needed

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Quantities

Total area—
Cubic feet—
2 ft³ bags—
3 ft³ bags—

Cost

Bulk delivery—
Bagged—

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Cheaper option at this volume

There are 13.5 bags of the standard two cubic foot size in a cubic yard. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper above about two cubic yards, though it needs somewhere to tip the load and a wheelbarrow to move it.

Quick Tool Overview

The Mulch Calculator finds how much mulch a bed needs from its area and depth, in cubic yards, cubic feet and standard bags, and compares the cost of bulk delivery against bagged mulch at your volume.

What it does
Calculates mulch volume and bags for garden beds
You give it
Bed dimensions and the depth you want
You get back
Cubic yards, cubic feet, bag count and cost
Best for
Garden beds, borders and landscaping projects
Calculators Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Mulch Calculator

Find how much mulch a bed needs from its area and the depth you want, in cubic yards, cubic feet and standard two-cubic-foot bags. Several beds of different shapes can be added together for a single order.

Depth is where the decision actually lies. Two to three inches suppresses weeds and holds moisture without smothering roots, which is the range worth aiming at. Going deeper wastes money and can starve the soil of oxygen, and piling mulch against trunks — the volcano mulching you see everywhere — traps moisture against the bark and invites rot and pests. Bulk delivery is usually far cheaper than bags above about two cubic yards, and the tool shows the crossover point.

Key features of the Mulch Calculator

Several beds at once

Rectangular, circular and irregular beds can be totalled into a single order.

Bulk versus bags

Enter both prices and the tool shows which is cheaper at your volume — bulk usually wins above two cubic yards.

Depth guidance

Two to three inches suppresses weeds without starving the soil of oxygen, and the page explains why deeper is not better.

Volcano mulching warned against

Piling mulch against trunks traps moisture and invites rot — stated plainly rather than assumed.

Standard bag sizes

Two and three cubic foot bags, so the count matches what is actually on the pallet.

How to use the Mulch Calculator

  1. 1

    Measure your beds

    Rectangular, circular or irregular. Several can be added together.

  2. 2

    Choose a depth

    Two to three inches is the usual recommendation for weed suppression.

  3. 3

    Read the volume

    Cubic yards, cubic feet and the number of standard bags.

  4. 4

    Compare bulk against bags

    Enter both prices to see which is cheaper at your volume.

Frequently asked questions

Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 100 square foot bed at 3 inches deep needs about 0.93 cubic yards.

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