Mulch Calculator
This mulch calculator turns bed length, width, and depth into cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag counts for 2 cu ft and 3 cu ft bags. Optional waste is volume only, not a delivery quote.
How to use
- Enter bed length and width in feet, or switch to a total square-foot area.
- Set the depth in inches. The default is 3 inches.
- Optionally enter a waste percent. Leave it at 0 when you do not want a buffer.
- Read cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag counts. Bag counts round up to a whole bag.
Formula
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × (depth in inches ÷ 12). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. If you enter a waste percent, multiply the cubic feet by (1 + waste ÷ 100) before the yard and bag counts. Bags of 2 cubic feet = cubic feet ÷ 2, rounded up. Bags of 3 cubic feet = cubic feet ÷ 3, rounded up.
Example. A 200 sq ft bed at 3 inches is 200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get 1.852 cubic yards. That is 25 bags of 2 cubic feet and 17 bags of 3 cubic feet.
Example. The same bed with 10% waste is 55 cubic feet, or 2.037 cubic yards, which is 28 bags of 2 cubic feet and 19 bags of 3 cubic feet.
Frequently asked questions
How much mulch do I need?
Area (sq ft) x depth (ft) / 27 = cubic yards. A 200 sq ft bed at 3 inches (0.25 ft) is about 1.85 cubic yards.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to four inches is common for beds. Deeper can smother plants; shallower dries out faster.
How many bags in a cubic yard?
A 2 cu ft bag: 27 / 2 = about 14 bags per yard. A 3 cu ft bag: about 9 bags per yard.
Does this include walkways?
Measure only the bed you will cover. Subtract plant trunks if you want a tighter number.
Is this a delivery quote?
No. It estimates volume and bags. Prices and bulk density vary by supplier.
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