Black Mulch Calculator
Black dyed mulch gives beds a crisp look. Enter your bed size and depth for cubic yards and bags.
Area: 100 sq ft
1.0cubic yards
Bulk is usually sold in ½-yard increments with a ~1-yard delivery minimum — round up when you order.
Show the math
- Area100 sq ft
- Volume100 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 1225.0 cu ft
- Cubic yards25.0 cu ft ÷ 270.9 cu yd
- + 10% waste0.9 × 1.101.0 cu ydthe amount to buy in bulk, before rounding to bags
- Bags27.5 cu ft ÷ 2 cu ft/bag14 bagsrounded up to whole bags
Est. cost $31–$51typical bulk price · adjust for your supplier
Bags or bulk for this job?
For this size, bags usually wins.
≈ 9 wheelbarrow loads to spread · delivery fee varies by distance — confirm at checkout.
- Low-fi estimate. Confirm coverage and bag sizes with your supplier.
- Includes a 10% overage allowance.
- Bag count assumes 2 cu ft bags. Bulk delivery is sold by the cubic yard.
Doing more than one bed or material?
Want it installed?
Let a local pro know you're interested · no obligation
Planning more than one thing? Open the Yard Planner → to trace your whole yard over an aerial photo and total every material at once.
How to measure for mulch
- Measure the length and width of your area in feet.
- Multiply them for square feet (or just enter length and width above).
- Choose a depth — we default to 3 inches for mulch.
- Read your total in cubic yards, or the number of bags.
Black Mulch coverage at a glance (3" deep)
| Area (sq ft) | Cubic yards | Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1.0 | 14 |
| 200 | 2.0 | 28 |
| 300 | 3.1 | 42 |
| 500 | 5.1 | 69 |
| 1,000 | 10.2 | 138 |
Includes a 10% overage allowance. Estimates are low-fi — confirm with your supplier.
Frequently asked questions
How much black mulch do I need?
Same as any mulch by volume: at 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft. Enter your numbers above.
Is dyed black mulch safe?
Quality black mulch is typically colored with iron-oxide dye, considered safe for landscaping. Keep dyed mulch out of vegetable beds.