Mulch Calculator
The Mulch Calculator converts your garden bed dimensions and desired depth into cubic yards and bags of mulch, so you buy exactly what you need for a healthy, weed-suppressing layer.
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How This Tool Works
Enter your bed's length and width, choose a mulch depth (2–3 inches is typical), and see how many cubic yards or bags to buy.
Formula & Method
Volume (cubic feet) = area × (depth in inches ÷ 12). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Bags needed = cubic feet ÷ bag size.
Example Calculation
A 20×5 ft bed (100 sq ft) at 3 inches deep needs 25 cubic feet, or about 0.93 cubic yards — roughly 13 bags of 2 cu ft mulch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should mulch be?+
Most garden beds do best with 2–3 inches of mulch. Deeper layers can trap moisture against stems and roots and encourage rot.
How many bags of mulch equal a cubic yard?+
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch (or 9 bags of 3 cu ft mulch) to equal one cubic yard.
Is bagged or bulk mulch cheaper?+
Bulk mulch delivered by the cubic yard is usually cheaper for large areas (typically more than 10 cubic yards), while bagged mulch is more convenient for small beds.
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