Mulch Calculator
Calculate bags or cubic yards of mulch for garden beds.
Mulch Calculator
What This Calculator Does
The Mulch Calculator tells you exactly how much mulch you need for garden beds, tree rings, and landscaped areas - in both cubic yards for bulk delivery and 2-cubic-foot bags for retail purchase. Enter the bed area and desired depth, and get the volume with the +10% waste amount.
Mulch is essential for moisture retention, weed suppression, and soil temperature regulation in garden beds. It is the most common repeat purchase for US homeowners with landscaping. A 2-cubic-foot bag covers approximately 24 square feet at 1 inch depth, 8 square feet at 3 inches, or 6 square feet at 4 inches. Bulk mulch is typically 30-50% cheaper than bagged.
The calculator supports depths from 2 inches (light topdressing) to 6 inches (heavy play area coverage).
How to Use
- Measure the total bed area in square feet (for irregular beds, divide into rectangles and sum).
- Select the desired mulch depth: 2 in or 3 in for standard beds, 4-6 in for heavy coverage.
- Enter the area and depth into the calculator fields above.
- Click "Calculate" to see cubic yards and 2-cu-ft bags needed.
- Compare bulk vs. bag pricing - for anything over 1 cu yd, bulk is significantly cheaper.
Reference Table
| Bed Area | Depth 2 in | Depth 3 in | Depth 4 in | 2-cu-ft Bags (3 in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 cu yd | 0.46 cu yd | 0.62 cu yd | 6 bags |
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 cu yd | 0.93 cu yd | 1.23 cu yd | 13 bags |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 cu yd | 1.85 cu yd | 2.47 cu yd | 25 bags |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 cu yd | 4.63 cu yd | 6.17 cu yd | 63 bags |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 cu yd | 9.26 cu yd | 12.35 cu yd | 125 bags |
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