Mulch Calculator – How Much Mulch Do I Need?
Use our mulch calculator to determine how many cubic feet or cubic yards of mulch you need for your project. Enter the square footage of the area and the desired depth in inches, and our calculator will determine the total amount of cubic feet or cubic yards you need.
Mulch Calculator and Formula
Enter the area and depth of much to calculate the volume in cubic feet, cubic meters, cubic yards, bags, and wheelbarrows:
In most cases, manufacturers sell bagged mulch by the cubic foot and loose mulch by the cubic yard. Determine how much mulch you need using our mulch calculator or making the calculations yourself with the formula below.
To determine the cubic feet of mulch you need, measure the length, width, and desired height in feet, then multiply those numbers by each other. To convert that number to cubic yards, divide by 27.
Cubic feet = length x width x depth
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
How Much Mulch Do I Need?
If you’re mulching a flower bed that is 10 ft long and 3 feet wide, and you want your mulch to be .25 ft deep (3 inches), calculate cubic feet by multiplying those numbers.
10 x 3 x .25 = 7.5 cubic feet
To determine how many cubic yards of mulch you’ll need, divide your cubic feet by 27.
7.5 ÷ 27 = .278 cubic yards
How Many Cubic Feet in a Yard of Mulch
Sometimes mulch is sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet of mulch. Most bagged varieties include two cubic feet of mulch. In this case, you would need 13.5 bags of mulch to cover one cubic yard.
Determining How Much Mulch You Need Per Square Foot of Area
The ideal mulch thickness is 2-3 inches. If you’re purchasing mulch by the cubic yard, here’s how much it will cover depending on thickness:
- One cu. yard of mulch will cover 324 square feet at one inch thick
- One cubic yard of mulch will cover 162 square feet at two inches thick
- A single cubic yard of mulch will cover 108 square feet at three inches thick
- One cubic yard of mulch will cover 81 square feet at four inches thick
If you’re buying bags of mulch that are two cubic feet each, here’s how much square footage each bag will cover depending on thickness:
- A 2 cubic foot bag of mulch will cover 24 square feet at one inch thick
- A 2 cubic foot bag of mulch will cover 12 square feet at two inches thick
- One two cubic foot bag of mulch will cover 8 square feet at three inches thick
- A 2 cubic foot bag of mulch will cover 6 square feet at four inches thick
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
How many bags of mulch is equal to 10 yards?
If you’re buying mulch by the bag but need ten cubic yards, you would need 130.5 of the two cubic foot size bags to equal ten cubic yards. If you purchase three cubic-foot-sized bags of mulch, you need 90 bags to equal ten cubic yards. (Note: cubic yards is a volume measurement of 3ft x 3ft x 3ft, not a length measurement.)
How many cubic yards are 60 bags of mulch?
Mulch comes in 2 cubic feet and three cubic feet-sized bags. If you bought 60 bags of mulch that cover two cubic feet, it would equal 4.444 cubic yards. If you purchased 60 bags of mulch that cover three cubic feet, it would equal 6.667 yards.
Should you buy more mulch than you need?
It’s a better idea to buy a little more mulch you need than not have enough. As a general rule of thumb, round up your calculations.
How much mulch can I fit in a truck?
A regular cab truck with a standard bed can hold 2-3 cubic yards of mulch. Smaller truckers will hold 1-2 cubic yards.