Mulch Calculator
Work out how many cubic yards or bags of mulch you need for your beds, and what it will cost.
Your details
Depth & cost
This calculator runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or sold. How this works
Mulch needed
2.96 yd³
40 bags (2 ft³ each) covering 320 ft² at 3.0 inches
Includes your inputs, the full breakdown, and every row of the table.
Cubic feet
80.0 ft³
2 ft³ bags
40
Bulk cost
$199
Including $75 delivery
Bagged cost
$180
Bags is cheaper here
- Bed area
- 320.0 ft²
- Depth (3.0")
- 80.0 ft³
- Cubic yards
- 2.96
- Bulk (delivered)
- $199
- Bagged (40 bags)
- $180
- Bags saves
- $19
| Depth | Coverage per yd³ | Yards for your area |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 ft² | 0.99 |
| 2" | 162 ft² | 1.98 |
| 3" | 108 ft² | 2.96 |
| 4" | 81 ft² | 3.95 |
| 6" | 54 ft² | 5.93 |
What this means
- Three inches is the sweet spot: enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture, not so much that it smothers roots. Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks and stems.
- At this volume bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than bags, and far less plastic to dispose of.
How the mulch calculation works
Mulch is sold in bags of two or three cubic feet, or in bulk by the cubic yard. One cubic yard equals 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags, and covers roughly 108 square feet at three inches deep.
The break-even between bags and bulk usually falls around two cubic yards once delivery is included. Below that, bags win on convenience; above it, bulk wins clearly on both price and effort.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches for most beds, three to four for aggressive weed suppression. Deeper than four inches can keep water and oxygen from reaching roots.
How many bags in a cubic yard?
13.5 bags of two cubic feet, or nine bags of three cubic feet.
Related calculators
Gravel Calculator
Calculate tons and cubic yards of gravel, crushed stone, or road base for a driveway or project area.
ConstructionSquare Footage Calculator
Calculate area for rectangles, circles, triangles, and irregular rooms — and convert between units.
ConstructionConcrete Calculator
Calculate cubic yards of concrete for slabs, footings, columns, and steps — including waste allowance and bag counts.
ConstructionBoard Foot Calculator
Convert lumber dimensions to board feet and price a cut list, with nominal and actual sizes handled correctly.
ConstructionSpotted a problem, or want this calculator to do more?Corrections are fixed first, and the most-requested features get built next.Tell us →
Disclaimer. This calculator is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, medical, or engineering advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions described above. Confirm any figure with a qualified professional before acting on it.