# Mulch calculator

> Mulch is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the bag at retail. Enter your garden bed dimensions and this calculator tells you exactly how much to order.

Calculate how much mulch you need in cubic yards, cubic feet, and bags for any garden bed or landscape area.

**Interactive version:** https://onlinecalculator.me/construction/mulch/
**Category:** Construction

## Formula

```
Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12
Volume (cu yd) = cu ft ÷ 27
```

## Example

Bed 10 ft × 10 ft at 3 inches deep:

```
Volume = 10 × 10 × 3 / 12 = 25 cu ft = 0.93 cu yd
Bags (2 cu ft): ceil(25 / 2) = 13 bags
Bags (3 cu ft): ceil(25 / 3) = 9 bags
```

## Frequently asked questions

### How much mulch do I need per cubic yard?

1 cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep (or 81 sq ft at 4 inches). In metric, 1 cubic meter covers about 20 m² at 5 cm depth.

### What depth of mulch should I use?

2–3 inches (5–8 cm) for most ornamental beds. Deeper than 4 inches (10 cm) can compact and block water.

### How do bags compare to bulk mulch?

Bulk is cheaper for large areas. A typical bag is 2 cu ft; 13.5 bags equal 1 cubic yard. For small areas, bags are more convenient.

### Does this include waste factor?

No. Add 10–15% to your order to account for settling and uneven surfaces.

### How do I share my calculation?

Click "Share with my numbers" to copy a URL that saves your dimensions.

## Sources

- [Mulch — materials, uses, and application depth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulch) — Wikipedia
- [Cubic yard — unit of volume](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_yard) — Wikipedia

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