Mulch Calculator
Enter your bed dimensions and desired depth. We'll tell you how much mulch to buy — in cubic yards or bags.
Advanced options
- Area
- 0 sq ft
- Volume
- 0 cu ft
- Cubic yards
- 0
- Bags (2 cu ft)
- 0
- Estimated cost
- —
How the mulch calculator works
We calculate the bed area (length × width for a rectangle, π × radius² for a circle), multiply by your depth (converted from inches to feet), and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For bag counts, we divide the cubic feet by your bag size (typically 2 cu ft).
How deep should the mulch be?
- 2 inches — refresh coat on a bed that already has mulch; minimum for aesthetics.
- 3 inches — the sweet spot for new beds: weed suppression, moisture retention, and it breathes.
- 4 inches — maximum for most plants; good for aggressive weed areas.
- Deeper than 4 inches — risks suffocating roots and causing "mulch volcano" damage to trees.
Bags vs. bulk
Below about 3 cubic yards, bags are usually easier — delivery of bulk mulch typically has a $50–$100 minimum fee. Above 3 cubic yards, bulk is noticeably cheaper ($30–$50/yd vs. $4/bag × 13.5 bags). Our 2 cu ft default bag equals 0.074 cubic yards; it takes 13.5 bags to make a cubic yard.
When to add mulch
Spring (after the ground warms) and fall (before first frost) are both fine. Avoid mulching immediately after heavy rain — you'll trap excess moisture against stems.