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.
Cubic Yards
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Cubic Feet
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Cubic Meters
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2 cu ft Bags
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3 cu ft Bags
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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
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.