Mulch Calculator
A free mulch calculator: enter your bed size and depth to get cubic yards, bag count and a bulk-vs-bags cost comparison. It also works for topsoil and compost.
How much mulch do I need?
Common bed sizes are below, at 3 in deep with a 10% waste allowance and 2 cu ft bags. For anything else, use the calculator above, or divide your bed's square footage by the coverage figure for your depth in the next table.
| Bed size | Area | Cubic yards | 2 cu ft bags | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 10 ft | 50 sq ft | 0.51 | 7 | Run this size |
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 1.02 | 14 | Run this size |
| 10 × 20 ft | 200 sq ft | 2.04 | 28 | Run this size |
| 20 × 25 ft | 500 sq ft | 5.09 | 69 | Run this size |
| 25 × 40 ft | 1,000 sq ft | 10.19 | 138 | Run this size |
How many square feet does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so the area it covers depends only on depth. The same arithmetic gives the coverage of a single bag, which is how many bags a bed needs.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 bag (1.5 cu ft) | 1 bag (2 cu ft) | 1 bag (3 cu ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 18 sq ft | 24 sq ft | 36 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 9 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 18 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 8 sq ft | 12 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 4.5 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 9 sq ft |
A cubic yard equals 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags, 9 three-cubic-foot bags or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet. Retail bag sizes vary, so check the label.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bulk or in bags?
Per cubic yard, bulk is usually cheaper once your order clears the supplier's delivery minimum, commonly around 1 cubic yard. Below that, bags avoid the minimum. Bulk prices below exclude delivery fees, which vary a lot by supplier and distance, so compare delivered quotes.
| Material | Bag size | Bagged, per cubic yard | Bulk, per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shredded Hardwood Mulch | 2 cu ft | $54–$81 | $35–$55 |
| Pine Bark Mulch | 2 cu ft | $61–$95 | $40–$60 |
| Topsoil | 1.5 cu ft | $54–$90 | $25–$45 |
| Compost | 1 cu ft | $108–$189 | $40–$60 |
National-average ranges as of 2026-09, not live quotes. After you calculate your quantity above, the result also offers a way to request local delivered prices. Comparing a bag count against a bulk quote? Our sister site's bags to cubic yards converter turns a number of mulch or topsoil bags into cubic yards, and back.
How deep should mulch be, and what about topsoil and compost?
- Mulch: 2–3 in for most garden beds. Keep it a few inches back from stems and trunks so it doesn't hold moisture against them.
- Topsoil: a bulk fill and planting medium. Choose Topsoil in the form for cubic yards and bags at the depth your job needs, for example leveling a low spot or patching a lawn. For raised beds, garden soil or fill dirt, with settling and weight included, use the soil calculator.
- Compost: a soil amendment, normally worked into the top few inches of soil rather than left on the surface. Choose Compost in the form.
How the mulch calculator works
This planner converts a bed's length, width and desired depth into cubic yards and bags of mulch, topsoil or compost, and compares the cost of buying bulk vs. bagged material.
- Volume: area (length × width) × depth, converted from inches to feet, plus your waste allowance.
- Bags: volume in cubic feet ÷ the material's bag size, rounded up.
- Bulk vs. bags: compares the mid-range cost per cubic foot of bulk delivery against bagged material, and factors in typical bulk delivery minimums, to suggest which is more practical at your quantity.
Worked example
A 20 ft by 10 ft bed (200 sq ft) at 3 in of shredded hardwood mulch: 50 cu ft, plus 10% waste = 55 cu ft, about 2 cu yd, or 28 two-cubic-foot bags. Bagged runs roughly $112–$168; bulk delivered runs about $71–$112, making bulk the more economical choice at this quantity.
Frequently asked questions
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed's length by width to get square feet, multiply by depth (in feet), then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 ft by 10 ft bed at 3 in deep needs about 2 cubic yards, or roughly 28 two-cubic-foot bags, including a 10% waste allowance.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
It depends on depth: one cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in. Divide your bed area by the figure for your depth to get cubic yards.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags, 9 three-cubic-foot bags or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet. Check the size printed on the bag, because retail bags vary.
How much mulch do I need for 100, 200 or 500 square feet?
At 3 in deep with a 10% waste allowance, 100 sq ft needs about 1.02 cubic yards (14 two-cubic-foot bags), 200 sq ft needs about 2.04 cubic yards (28 bags) and 500 sq ft needs about 5.09 cubic yards (69 bags).
How deep should mulch be?
2 to 3 inches is the typical recommended depth for most garden beds, enough to suppress weeds and retain moisture without smothering plant roots or promoting rot against stems and trunks.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bulk or in bags?
Bulk delivery is usually more economical per cubic yard once you're above most suppliers' delivery minimum (commonly around 1 cubic yard). Below that, bagged material from a garden center or hardware store is often more practical and avoids a delivery minimum. Delivery fees vary, so compare quotes.
How often should I replace mulch?
Organic mulches like shredded hardwood typically break down and need topping off or replacing every 1 to 2 years, depending on climate and mulch type. A thin top-up layer is often enough rather than removing and replacing the full depth.
What is the difference between mulch, topsoil and compost?
Mulch is a surface layer (bark, wood chips) that suppresses weeds and retains moisture. Topsoil is a bulk fill and planting medium. Compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment typically worked into the top few inches of soil rather than left on the surface. This calculator supports all three with material-specific bag sizes and pricing, so choose Topsoil or Compost in the material list.
Limitations
This tool estimates material quantities and typical costs only. Bulk delivery minimums, access for delivery trucks and local pricing vary by supplier — confirm before ordering.
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