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EnoughMath

Mulch Calculator

Find how many bags or cubic yards of mulch cover your beds.

Units

Result

Cubic yards

1.85 cu yd

You need about 1.85 cubic yards of mulch — that's 25 bags of 2 cu ft.

Cubic meters
1.42 m³
Cubic feet
50.00 cu ft
2 cu ft bags
25
Area
200.0 sq ft

Shopping list

  • 25 × 2 cu ft bags of mulch
  • or 1.85 cu yd delivered in bulk

Measure by: Length × width · Length 20 ft · Width 10 ft · Depth 3 in · Bag size: 2 cu ft

Assumptions
  • Volume = area × depth. Bag counts round up to whole bags.
  • Bag sizes are the volume printed on the bag. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
  • The depth you enter is the depth right after spreading.

Estimates only. Check product labels and local building codes, and consult a licensed professional for structural, roofing or code-regulated work.

How to measure

  1. Measure each bed’s length and width in feet. For an odd shape, split it into rectangles and add the areas, or enter a total area.
  2. Choose a depth. The default is 3 inches. Iowa State University Extension suggests 3 to 4 inches of wood chips or shredded bark on well-drained sites and 2 to 3 inches on heavy soils; Illinois Extension gives 2 to 4 inches.
  3. Pick a bag size. The volume is printed on the bag in cubic feet.
A garden bed with its length, width and mulch depth markedLengthWidthDepth
Measure the bed's length and width in feet. Depth is how thick the mulch layer will be, in inches.

How this calculator works

  • Area = length × width (or the total area you enter)
  • Volume (cubic feet) = area × depth ÷ 12, because depth is in inches
  • Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
  • Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up

Example. Measure by: Total area · Area 200 sq ft · Depth 3 in · Bag size: 2 cu ft

Cubic yards
1.85 cu yd
Cubic meters
1.42 m³
Cubic feet
50.00 cu ft
2 cu ft bags
25
Area
200.0 sq ft

You need about 1.85 cubic yards of mulch — that's 25 bags of 2 cu ft.

Before you buy

  • Bulk is sold by the cubic yard; bags by the cubic foot. 27 cubic feet make a cubic yard, so 2-cubic-foot bags work out to 13.5 bags per yard.
  • Topping up? Measure the depth that’s already there and enter only the extra you need.
  • Keep mulch off tree trunks. Iowa State University Extension recommends keeping it at least 6 inches from the trunks of trees; mulch piled against trunks can encourage disease and rodents.

Questions

How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: about 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, 9 bags of 3 cubic feet, or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet.

How much mulch do I need for 200 square feet?

At 3 inches deep, 50 cubic feet — about 1.85 cubic yards, or 25 bags of 2 cubic feet.

Should I buy bags or bulk?

Bags are easier for small beds. For big areas, compare the bag count with a bulk delivery price per cubic yard from your supplier.

Sources & methodology

  1. Iowa State University Extension — How deep should the mulch layer be around trees and shrubs?
  2. University of Illinois Extension — Proper mulching techniques

Last reviewed . How we build and test our calculators.