Mulch Calculator
Measure your beds and choose a depth to see how many cubic yards or bags of mulch to buy, and what a bulk delivery will cost.
- Cubic yards & bags
- Any bed shape
- Depth guidance
- Bulk cost
Garden beds
Enter feet (12), feet and inches (12' 6" or 12 6) or inches (18in).
Most beds need 2–3 inches of mulch; 3–4 inches for suppressing weeds. Keep mulch a few inches away from tree trunks and stems.
0.74 cubic yards
To cover 80 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
- Cubic feet
- 20
- 2 cu ft bags
- 10
- Cubic metres
- 0.57 m³
- Litres
- 566
One cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches. Buying in bulk is usually cheaper above 2–3 cubic yards.
What is a mulch calculator?
A mulch calculator turns the size of your garden beds and the depth of mulch you want into the amount to buy. Mulch is sold in bags by the cubic foot or in bulk by the cubic yard. Measuring first avoids a second trip to the garden centre or paying for more than you need.
How to use Mulch Calculator
- Enter each bed as a rectangle, circle (tree rings) or triangle. Add as many beds as you need.
- Choose the depth: 2–3 inches for most beds, 3–4 inches for weed control.
- Pick the bag size you plan to buy.
- Read the cubic yards and number of bags, and add the bulk price per yard to compare costs.
Mulch coverage cheat sheet
- 1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches.
- A 2 cu ft bag covers about 12 sq ft at 2 inches or 8 sq ft at 3 inches.
- There are 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags in a cubic yard.
- Keep mulch 2–3 inches away from tree trunks and plant stems to prevent rot.
Why use this mulch calculator
- Bags or bulkSee the number of 1.5, 2 or 3 cu ft bags and the cubic yards for bulk delivery.
- Several areas at onceAdd rectangles, circles and triangles, set quantities and subtract cut-outs to match real, irregular spaces.
- Feet, inches or metresType 12' 6" or 12 6, switch to metres any time, and see results in both systems.
- Good depth adviceGuidance on depth and keeping mulch away from trunks.
Common projects
- Spring garden refresh. Top up existing beds by 1–2 inches.
- New beds. Lay 3 inches over bare soil or weed membrane.
- Tree rings. Circles around trees, set as quantity × diameter.
- Playgrounds. Deeper wood chips for safety surfacing.
Planning a bigger project? See all home and DIY calculators, or work out costs with the percentage calculator and discount calculator.
Example: front yard beds
Two 20 × 4 ft beds and a tree ring 6 ft across (about 28 sq ft) total 188 sq ft. At 3 inches deep you need 47 cu ft, or 1.74 cubic yards, which is 24 two-cubic-foot bags.
What to expect from the result
Bag volumes vary slightly between brands and fresh mulch settles over time. Bulk suppliers may round up to half or whole yards and charge for delivery.
Mulch Calculator questions
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet and by 27 for cubic yards. For 100 sq ft at 3 inches you need 25 cu ft, or 0.93 cubic yards.
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 9 bags of 3 cu ft or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches for most beds; three to four inches to suppress weeds. Do not pile it against trunks.
How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
About 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 162 square feet at 2 inches.
Is bulk mulch cheaper than bags?
Usually, once you need more than 2–3 cubic yards. Enter the bulk price per yard to compare with bag prices.