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Mulch calculator

Mulch is sold in bags that look identical from ten feet away and in bulk yards that look like a lot until they are spread at three inches. Depth is the lever: two inches vs three inches is a 50% material jump on the same bed. Enter bed area (or length × width), pick depth, add a little extra for settling, and read yards plus bag counts. Irregular beds: break into rectangles and add.

ft
ft
sq ft
Optional — overrides L×W when set
in
cu ft
5%
0510152025

+5% so you don't come up short

ORDER ESTIMATEMULCH
Cubic yards to order2.33
Bags (2 cu ft)32
Depth3 in
Waste5%
How it calculates
area (L×W or sq ft) × (depth ÷ 12) → cu ft; ÷ 27 → yd³; × (1 + 5% waste); bags = ceil(order cu ft ÷ 2 cu ft/bag).

Estimate only — not a contractor bid. Confirm bag yields and local codes before you pour or order.

When to use

Spring bed refresh; new planting rings around trees; comparing bag price vs bulk delivery for a big front yard.

When not to

Playground engineered wood fiber specs, firewise mulch codes, or volumetric compost for grading — different products. For “how many bags in a yard” as a standalone conversion, see how many bags of mulch.

Assumptions

Default bag size 2 cubic feet (editable). Default depth suggestion 2–3 inches for most beds. Waste / irregularity default 5–10%. Bulk yards = cu ft ÷ 27.

Worked examples

Example 1

200 sq ft of beds, 3 in depth, 5% extra, 2 cu ft bags
→ 50 cu ft → ≈ 1.85 yd³ → 53 bags after extra

At ~50 bags, call the bulk desk.

Example 2

Two beds 8×4 ft and 10×3 ft, 2 in depth, 2 cu ft bags
→ 62 sq ft → ~10.3 cu ft → 6 bags with round-up

How it calculates

Square footage × depth → cubic feet; divide by 27 for yards or by bag size for bags.

  1. Enter length × width or total bed area.
  2. Set depth in inches and bag size (often 2 cu ft).
  3. Add a little waste; read yards and bags.
cu ft = area_sqft × (depth_in / 12)
yd³ = cu ft / 27
bags = ceil(order_cu_ft / bag_cu_ft)

Common traps

  1. Dyed mulch vs hardwood — coverage is similar; weight and price are not.
  2. Volcano mulch against trunks wastes bags and hurts trees — keep a gap.
  3. Old mulch still occupying depth. If last year’s layer is still 1 inch thick, you may only need a top-dress.

Next tool

Mineral cover / stone → gravel calculator.

Bag↔yard conversion only → how many bags of mulch.

Soil for fill → topsoil calculator.

FAQ

Square footage × depth (inches) ÷ 12 = cubic feet; divide by 27 for yards or by bag size for bags.

Related

Estimate only — not a contractor bid or engineered takeoff. Confirm bag yields and local codes before you pour or order.