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Mulch Calculator

How much mulch do I need? Enter the bed and the depth — this mulch calculator turns them into cubic yards, cubic feet, and the bag count for both 2 and 3 cubic foot sacks, then prices the job per yard or per bag. Watch the mulch bed fill in as you change the numbers.

Volume grows with your numbers

4.6 yd³

Shape
Units
Mulch depth

One inch refreshes a layer that is still there, two tops it up, three is the bed standard, four suits tree and shrub rings. Iowa State puts wood chips and shredded bark at 3–4 in on well-drained ground, Illinois Extension at 2–4 in overall, and Maryland Extension keeps it shallower at 1–3 in.

Mulch is sold by volume, so treat the weight estimate as load planning only: dry wood mulch runs about 445–620 lb per cubic yard (Cornell), roughly a fifth of the same volume of topsoil, and wet mulch is far heavier.

Your price
Priced as

Mode 1 — unit price. Leave blank for the published band (Sources) of $25–$55 per yard, or $2–$7 per bag. Bulk and bagged are different products at different prices — enter the one you were quoted.

Waste allowance

Beds are never perfectly square and mulch settles, so the allowance raises the order quantity only. The measured area stays exactly what you typed.

Cubic yards
4.6
Cubic feet
125
2 cu ft bags
63
3 cu ft bags
42
Weight (dry)
2,060–2,870 lb
Est. cost (bulk)
$116–$255
Area
500 ft²

Mulch price reference

TypeTypical priceNotes
Bulk mulch, delivered$15–$65 / yd³HomeGuide 2026 published range for the material, delivered
This tool’s default$25–$55 / yd³Mid-band of the delivered range — not a local quote
Installed (spread for you)$35–$70 / yd³HomeGuide, priced off a 100 sq ft bed at 3 in
Bagged mulch$2–$7 / bagHomeGuide, each bag covering 7–9 sq ft

Planning bands, not invoices. HomeGuide's 2026 landscaping table lists bulk mulch at about $15–$65 per cubic yard delivered and bags at $2–$733, with installed mulch at $35–$70 per yard34. The bag figures only make sense next to a bag size: a yard is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet1.

How much mulch do I need?

Use the calculator above. Enter the area of the bed and the depth you want the mulch to sit at. The tool converts those two numbers into cubic yards and cubic feet — the units bulk suppliers sell by — and then into the bag counts that big-box stores sell by, so one number works at either counter.

The mulch formula

Cubic yards = (length × width × depth in inches) ÷ 324. NIST defines 1 cubic yard as 27 cubic feet; 27 × 12 inches = 324 square feet at 1 inch1. A 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches is 4.6 cubic yards, or 125 cubic feet. Bags are treated as 2 cubic feet and always rounded up, so that same bed is 63 bags, not 62.

Mulch is the same arithmetic as the topsoil calculator, the sand calculator, and a yard of coverage in the coverage guide. What changes is the depth that makes sense, and the fact that mulch is sold in bags far more often than soil is.

Mulch coverage chart

One cubic yard of any mulch covers the same square footage at a given depth, because coverage is volume, not weight. Bags are the same arithmetic in smaller units — a 2 cubic foot sack is 2 ÷ 27 of a yard, so it covers 2 ÷ 27 of the square footage. Read across for the depth you are spreading:

Depth1 yd³ covers1 bag (2 cu ft)1 bag (3 cu ft)
1 inch324 sq ft24 sq ft36 sq ft
2 inches162 sq ft12 sq ft18 sq ft
3 inches108 sq ft8 sq ft12 sq ft
4 inches81 sq ft6 sq ft9 sq ft

The 324 identity is the one the topsoil calculator runs on too: 27 cubic feet × 12 inches1. Coverage halves every time the depth doubles, so most beds land on the 3 inch row — 108 square feet per yard, or 8 square feet per 2 cubic foot bag. HomeGuide publishes a rounded 7–9 square feet per bag at that depth33, which brackets the 8 this chart derives.

How many bags of mulch do I need?

Find your depth, take the square footage, and divide by the coverage above. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet (buy 14) or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet — a ratio that never moves with depth, because both sides are volume1. Depth only changes how many yards the bed needs. These are the sizes people actually order:

BedAt 3 inchesCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
100 sq ft0.9 yd³25 ft³139
200 sq ft1.9 yd³50 ft³2517
500 sq ft4.6 yd³125 ft³6342
1,000 sq ft9.3 yd³250 ft³12584

Read the cubic feet printed on the sack, not the weight. A 2 cubic foot bag and a 40-pound bag are not the same thing, and mulch holds water, so two sacks of equal volume can weigh very differently. If your store stocks 3 cubic foot bags, you need roughly a third fewer of them — that is why the tool prints both columns.

Buying a pallet is a packaging unit, not a volume: a 40 × 48 inch pallet takes 65–70 bags of 2 cubic feet, which is about 4.8–5.2 cubic yards38. Divide the pallet price by those yards before you compare it with a bulk load, because the pallet discount is on the material, not on the delivery you still have to make.

Mulch depth: how thick should it be?

Depth is the number people guess, and it is the one that decides the bill. Three land-grant sources bracket the answer:

  • Iowa State Extension: a 3–4 inch layer of wood chips or shredded bark suits well-drained sites around trees and shrubs, and 2–3 inches suits heavy soils. Keep mulch at least 6 inches away from trunks30
  • Illinois Extension: 2–4 inches overall — composted mulch at 2–3 inches, coarse mulch at 3–4 inches — and at least 4 inches clear of the trunk31
  • Maryland Extension: keep mulch shallow, 1–3 inches, and about 3 inches off the base of the plant. By material: bark and arborist wood chips 1–3 inches, pine needles 2–3 inches, shredded leaves 2–3 inches, compost about 1 inch32

The upper bound matters as much as the lower one. Illinois Extension notes that thick layers mat together and cut how much water and oxygen reach the soil, and that mulch piled against a trunk softens bark and invites insects, disease, and root rot31. For anything that is already mulched, check the depth before you buy — if the layer is still there, raking it to break up the mat beats adding another inch on top31, 32.

Common mulch types and coverage

Coverage per yard does not change with the material — a yard of pine needles and a yard of hardwood chips both cover 108 square feet at 3 inches. What changes is the depth each material is spread at, how much it weighs, and how it behaves after the first season:

MulchDepthWhat it changes here
Wood chips2–4 inCoarsest option, so it sits at the top of the range
Shredded hardwood or bark2–3 inWhat this page assumes — about 445–620 lb per yard when dry
Sawdust2–3 inFiner and lighter at 350–450 lb per yard; packs down
Shredded leaves2–3 inMats if it is not shredded; usually free on site
Pine needles3–4 inLight and airy, so it needs more depth to block light
Compost1–3 inSpread thin — a soil feed, not a weed barrier
Grass clippings2–3 inDry it a day or two first or it forms a wet mat

The depths are Washington State University Extension's per-material guidance37, and they line up with Iowa State's rule of thumb that the useful range is 2–4 inches, coarser material at the high end and finer material at the low end36. Pick depth first and material second: the material does not change the volume you buy, only how heavy the load is and how often you replace it.

Why weight does not decide the order

Cornell's bulk-density table puts dry wood chips at 445–620 pounds per cubic yard and sawdust at 350–45035. Compare that with the 1.35 tons — roughly 2,700 pounds — this site uses for a yard of topsoil, and the reason bulk mulch is priced by the yard instead of the ton becomes obvious: the same volume weighs a fraction as much, and rain moves the number more than the species does. Use the calculator's weight line to plan a truck or trailer, and order in cubic yards.

Mulch cost: bulk vs bagged

Bagged and bulk mulch are the same product priced two ways, and there is one number that lets you compare them honestly: a cubic yard is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet1. Take the 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches — 4.6 yards, or 63 bags:

RouteQuantityHomeGuide bandThis site’s band
Bulk, delivered4.6 yd³$69–$301$116–$255
Bagged, 2 cu ft63 bags$126–$441—

Both columns use published bands, not quotes33. Bagged mulch lands at the same low end as bulk on a job this size and loses at the high end, because no delivery sits inside the bag price. On a small refresh — one bed, under a yard — bags usually cost less in total, since a bulk order carries a delivery charge whatever the volume34. Above a couple of yards the material saving on bulk outruns that charge. Type either price into the calculator and it will show the other side: a bulk $/yd and a bag $/bag on the same job.

If you are weighing mulch against soil or sand, the price structure differs — those are sold by weight as often as by volume, which is why the sand calculator prices by the ton and this one prices by the yard or the bag.

Related calculators

Mulch is one of four materials that run on the same area × depth arithmetic. If a project mixes them, price each on its own calculator so the units stay honest — mulch here is per yard or per bag, sand is per ton.

Guides that use this math

Common questions

How much mulch do I need?+

Cubic yards = area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. NIST: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so 27 × 12 inches is 324 square feet at 1 inch. A 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches is 4.6 cubic yards (125 cubic feet), which is 63 of this calculator’s 2-cubic-foot bags. Type your own rectangle, circle, L, or triangle above.

How much mulch do I need for 100 square feet?+

100 sq ft × 3 inches ÷ 324 = 0.93 cubic yards — about 25 cubic feet, or 13 bags of 2 cubic feet. At 2 inches it is 0.62 cubic yards (9 bags) and at 1 inch 0.31 cubic yards (5 bags). Round the bag count up rather than down: beds are never perfectly square and mulch settles.

How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?+

It depends on the sack, not the mulch. A yard is 27 cubic feet (NIST), so it is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet (buy 14) or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet. Bagged mulch is sold by volume — read the cubic feet on the label, never the weight. This calculator shows both bag counts so you can price whichever sack your store stocks.

How many square feet does a bag of mulch cover?+

Divide the bag’s cubic feet by the depth in feet. A 2 cubic foot bag covers 24 sq ft at 1 inch, 12 at 2 inches, 8 at 3 inches, and 6 at 4 inches; a 3 cubic foot bag covers half again as much — 12 sq ft at 3 inches. HomeGuide’s rounded 7–9 square feet per bag sits exactly on the 3 inch row.

How many square feet does a yard of mulch cover?+

324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, and 81 at 4 inches — the same 324 identity that drives the topsoil calculator. HomeGuide publishes a rounded 110–120 sq ft per yard at 3 inches; the un-rounded figure this calculator uses is 108.

How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?+

Cornell’s bulk-density table lists dry wood chips at 445–620 pounds per cubic yard and sawdust at 350–450. Moisture moves the number more than the species does — saturated mulch can run close to double — and retail 2 cubic foot bags sit at 20–40 pounds for the same reason. This site uses about 2,700 pounds per yard for topsoil, so a yard of mulch weighs roughly a fifth of that, which is why bulk mulch is priced by volume.

How many bags of mulch are on a pallet?+

Roughly 50 to 70, because a pallet is a stacking decision rather than a volume. A standard 40 × 48 inch pallet takes 65–70 bags of 2 cubic feet — about 4.8–5.2 cubic yards — and 40–50 bags of 3 cubic feet, capped by a 4,600 pound load limit and a 48–60 inch stack height. Counts differ by retailer and bag size, so read the pallet listing: the big-box stores stack about 65–70 of the 2 cubic foot size.

How deep should mulch be?+

Two to four inches covers most beds. Iowa State Extension puts wood chips and shredded bark at 3–4 inches on well-drained sites around trees and shrubs, and 2–3 inches on heavy soils. Illinois Extension gives 2–4 inches overall, with composted mulch at 2–3 inches and coarse mulch at 3–4 inches. Maryland Extension keeps everything shallower: 1–3 inches, and about 1 inch for compost.

When is the best time to apply mulch?+

Early spring, once the ground has warmed and perennials are emerging, or fall as plants go dormant. Iowa State Extension warns that a spring layer put down too early insulates cold ground and slows emergence, and that a fall layer applied before dormancy can delay it. Two to four inches either way: the spring layer is about weeds and moisture, the fall layer about carrying roots through freeze-thaw cycles.

Can you have too much mulch?+

Yes. Iowa State calls a layer piled more than 2–4 inches against a trunk a mulch volcano: it keeps bark wet and invites cankers, root rots, and moisture-loving insects. Illinois Extension notes that thick layers mat down and reduce how much water and oxygen reach the soil. Keep it under 4 inches and feathered away from trunks — and if a layer is already there, rake it to break up the mat instead of adding another inch on top.

Should I buy bulk or bagged mulch?+

One cubic yard is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, so compare the two on the same footing. HomeGuide lists bulk mulch at $15–$65 per cubic yard delivered and bagged mulch at $2–$7 per bag covering 7–9 sq ft. The 500 sq ft × 3 in example is 4.6 yards or 63 bags: about $116–$255 as bulk on this site’s $25–$55 yard band, against $126–$441 for 63 bags at HomeGuide’s per-bag band. Below about a yard, bags usually win because there is no delivery to absorb.

How much does mulch cost per yard?+

HomeGuide’s 2026 tables put bulk mulch at $15–$65 per cubic yard delivered and installed mulch at $35–$70 per cubic yard on a 100 sq ft bed at 3 inches. Premium products — cedar, cypress, rubber — sit above that. This calculator’s $25–$55 default is the mid-band of the delivered range, not a local quote.

Does the depth I choose change the price?+

Only through volume. Costs scale in a straight line with cubic yards, and yards scale with depth. One extra inch on 1,000 square feet is 3.1 cubic yards, which is 42 more 2-cubic-foot bags. Depth is the number people guess, so change it in the calculator before you order.

Sources

Numbers on this page are planning figures. Follow the link for the original table or standard. Full list: Sources.

  1. NIST. Handbook 44, Appendix C — General Tables of Units of Measurement. 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Coverage identity: 27 × 12 = 324 sq ft at 1 inch.
  2. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How deep should the mulch layer be around trees and shrubs?. A 3–4 in layer of wood chips or shredded bark suits well-drained sites; 2–3 in on heavy soils. Keep mulch at least 6 in away from trunks.
  3. University of Illinois Extension. Proper Mulching Techniques (Tree Care Basics infosheet). Recommended mulch depth 2–4 in: composted material 2–3 in, coarse mulch 3–4 in. Keep at least 4 in away from the trunk; excess mulch mats and reduces water and oxygen penetration.
  4. University of Maryland Extension. Mulching Trees and Shrubs. Keep mulch shallow, 1–3 in, and about 3 in from the base of trunks. By material: bark and arborist wood chips 1–3 in, pine needles 2–3 in, shredded leaves 2–3 in, compost about 1 in.
  5. Washington State University Extension. Guide to Mulches (C075). Depth by material: wood chips 2–4 in and coarse or fine bark 2–3 in around trees and shrubs, sawdust 2–3 in, shredded leaves 2–3 in, pine needles 3–4 in or more, compost 1–3 in, grass clippings 2–3 in after drying, coffee grounds only ½ in. Keep bark and chips a few inches off trunks.
  6. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Using Mulch in the Garden. Generally 2–4 in, coarser mulches (wood chips) at the high end and finer mulches (grass clippings) at the low end. Apply in early spring once the ground warms and perennials emerge, or in fall as plants go dormant; mulching too early insulates cold soil. Mulch piled more than 2–4 in against a trunk (a mulch volcano) keeps bark wet and invites cankers, root rots, and moisture-loving insects; keep it under 4 in and feather it away from trunks.
  7. Cornell Waste Management Institute (Cornell University). On-Farm Composting Handbook, Appendix A — Table A.1 Typical Bulk Densities. Bulk density in pounds per cubic yard: wood chips 445–620, sawdust 350–450, loose leaves 300–400 (compacted 500–800). Dry wood mulch is roughly a fifth of the weight of the same volume of topsoil.
  8. The Backyard Pros (packaging-side figures). How Many Bags of Mulch Are on a Pallet?. A 40 × 48 in pallet takes 65–70 bags of 2 cu ft hardwood, straw, or pine bark; 70–80 of 1.5 cu ft, 50–60 of 2.8 cu ft, 40–50 of 3 cu ft. Loads are capped by a 4,600 lb weight limit and a 48–60 in stack height, so the count is a packaging decision that differs by retailer.
  9. HomeGuide. How Much Does Landscaping Cost? (2026). Mulch $15–$65 per cubic yard delivered. Publisher’s rounded coverage figure: 110–120 sq ft per yard at 3 in. Bagged mulch $2–$7 per bag covering 7–9 sq ft.
  10. HomeGuide. How much does lawn care cost? (2026). Installed mulch $35–$70 per cubic yard, priced off a 100 sq ft bed at 3 in deep. Same per-yard figure appears in their yard-cleanup table.