Mulch Calculator
How much mulch for a bed? Enter the bed size and depth and get cubic yards, cubic feet and bag counts — bulk by the yard is far cheaper than bags past a few yards.
2–3 in is standard for beds; 4 in for weed suppression. Keep mulch off plant stems.
Mulch for 200 sq ft at 3 in deep
1.85 cu yd — 50 cu ft · 1.42 cu m
Or in bags: 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 bags of 3 cu ft. Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard and is far cheaper than bags once you pass about 3–4 cu yd — one cubic yard covers about 100 sq ft at 3 in deep. Mulch settles by roughly a third in the first season, so a 3-in layer ends up closer to 2 in.
Estimate. Bag volumes are the labelled size; bulk yards vary a little by supplier. Confirm the price per yard locally — it varies by mulch type and region.
Formula used: Volume = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) cubic feet. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up.
How this estimate works: Mulch volume is bed area times depth, converted from inches to feet. Bulk suppliers sell by the cubic yard (27 cu ft), while garden centres sell 2- or 3-cubic-foot bags — the tool gives both, so you can compare. A yard at 3 inches deep covers about 100 square feet, which is a handy check on the number.
How the mulch calculator works
Mulch volume is bed area times depth, converted from inches to feet. Bulk suppliers sell by the cubic yard (27 cu ft), while garden centres sell 2- or 3-cubic-foot bags — the tool gives both, so you can compare. A yard at 3 inches deep covers about 100 square feet, which is a handy check on the number. Mulch settles by roughly a third in the first season, so a 3-in layer ends up closer to 2 in, and bulk mulch is far cheaper than bags once you pass about 3–4 cu yd.
Try next: Gravel Calculator · Topsoil Calculator · Sand Calculator
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