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Mulch Calculator

Find how much mulch you need in cubic yards and 2 or 3 cubic foot bags, for one bed or several, with cost.

Change the values and press Calculate to work out your own figures.

Area and depth

Enter the bed's area and the depth.

The area to fill.
Size of this dimension.
What your price is for.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Mulch
1.85 cu yd
Cubic feet
50 cu ft
Cubic meters
1.416 m³ (1,416 L)
2 cu ft bags
25
3 cu ft bags
17

You need about 1.85 cubic yards of mulch: 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 bags of 3 cu ft.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

Length, width and depth

Enter the bed's length and width and the depth.

Size of this dimension.
Size of this dimension.
Size of this dimension.
What your price is for.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Mulch
0.74 cu yd
Cubic feet
20 cu ft
Cubic meters
0.566 m³ (566 L)
2 cu ft bags
10
3 cu ft bags
7

You need about 0.74 cubic yards of mulch: 10 bags of 2 cu ft or 7 bags of 3 cu ft.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

Several beds

Add a row for each bed; they are added together.

Areas One row per bed or patch; they are added together.

Row 1
Row 2
Size of this dimension.
What your price is for.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Mulch
0.61 cu yd
Cubic feet
16.5 cu ft
Cubic meters
0.467 m³ (467 L)
2 cu ft bags
9
3 cu ft bags
6

You need about 0.61 cubic yards of mulch: 9 bags of 2 cu ft or 6 bags of 3 cu ft.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

How to use it

Enter the bed's area and the depth. Enter the bed's length and width and the depth. Add a row for each bed; they are added together.

Lengths can be decimals, fractions or tape entries such as 12' 6 1/2" (in feet or inches). Prices are optional.

Key facts

cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

Depth

2–3 inches suits most beds; 3–4 inches suppresses weeds better. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 108 at 3 inches and 81 at 4 inches.

Questions

How much mulch for 200 sq ft at 3 in?

1.85 cubic yards: 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 of 3 cu ft.

How many 2 cu ft bags in a cubic yard?

13.5, so 14 bags.

Reviewed by RK Calculator Team. Updated 2026-09-26.

Formulas

cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

Sources

Limitations

  • Material densities are typical values (the midpoint of the commonly published range); real loads vary with moisture, grading and compaction, so check with your supplier or type in their density.
  • Tank results are the geometric volume; real tanks have wall thickness and fittings.

Formula version 0.1.0Reviewed