Mulch Calculator
Find out how much mulch you need. Enter your bed size and depth — we’ll give you cubic yards and the number of bags.
Area: 0.0 sq ft
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.
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 mulch do I need?
Multiply length by width for square feet, then by depth. One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep. Enter your numbers above for an exact estimate.
How deep should mulch be?
Most beds use 2–3 inches. Too little won't suppress weeds; too much can smother roots. We default to 3 inches.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals about 13–14 standard 2-cubic-foot bags. Bulk mulch by the yard is usually cheaper than bags for larger projects.
How much mulch do I need for 500 square feet?
At 3 inches deep, 500 sq ft needs about 4.6 cubic yards (roughly 31 two-cubic-foot bags). See the coverage table below for other sizes.