FixerCalc

Mulch Calculator

Mulch is sold by the yard or the bag. This calculator converts a measured bed into both, so you can compare a bulk delivery to stacking bags in the car.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25. How we calculate

Results update as you type. Units stay imperial inside the math.

Bed

Two to three inches is common for weed suppression on established beds.

Packaging

Results

  • Cubic yards

    1.56

  • Bags to buy

    21

  • Cubic feet

    42.0

  • Bulk material (your $/yd)

    $70.00

  • Bed area

    160 sq ft

  • Mulch settles. A 3-inch order is not a 3-inch bed a year later. Recheck depth rather than trusting last year’s delivery.
  • Colored or rubber mulch bags can be a different volume than hardwood. Use the bag label.

How this calculation works

  1. Area is length × width or your total square footage for irregular beds added together.
  2. Depth in inches is converted to feet (divide by 12). Cubic feet = area × depth in feet. Cubic yards divide by 27.
  3. Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up. Cost uses your bulk $/yard on the wasted volume.

cu ft = sq ft × (depth in / 12) × (1+waste%); yards = cu ft / 27; bags = ceil(cu ft / bag size)

What to do next

  • Call the supplier for current bulk price; the default is a planning number, not today’s delivery quote.
  • Do not pile mulch against siding or tree trunks (volcano mulch). Keep a gap at stems.
  • If the bed is full of roots and grade is uneven, add a little extra rather than assuming a perfect rectangle.

FAQ

How deep should mulch be?
Often 2–3 inches for hardwood mulch on beds. Deeper can stay wet and invite pests. Follow what your plants and climate actually need, not a single internet rule.
Is a “scoop” the same as a yard?
No. A loader scoop is whatever that bucket holds. Buy by the cubic yard on a ticket, not by scoops.

Sources

  • Volume = area (sq ft) × depth (ft); 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
  • Bag count uses the bag size you enter (often 2 cu ft in US big-box stores)

Cost defaults are typical US planning bands, last reviewed 2026-08-25. Edit the price fields on this page rather than treating them as a local market index.