Mulch Calculator for Flower Beds
Flower beds do best with a 2–3 inch mulch layer. Enter your bed size and we'll calculate the 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.
Mulch for Flower Beds 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 deep should mulch be in a flower bed?
2–3 inches is ideal around flowers and perennials — enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture without smothering crowns. Keep it pulled back from stems.
What if my beds are odd shapes?
Use the circle, triangle, or 'draw your bed' tools above to trace irregular beds — even over a photo of your yard.