Mulch calculator
Enter the bed size and depth. You get cubic yards for a bulk order and the bag count for 2 cu ft bags, with a price comparison.
Materials takeoff
Mulch Calculator · https://estimahome.com/mulch-calculator/
Bed or area length: 20 ftBed or area width: 10 ftDepth: 3 in
- Area
- 200 sq ft
- Volume
- 50 cu ft · 1.85 cu yd
- Bags
- 25 × 2 cu ft
- Weight
- 0.74 tons
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mulch, 2 cu ft bags | 25 | bag | $4.50 | $112.50 |
- Subtotal
- $112.50
- Likely range
- $95.63 – $129.38
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mulch, bulk | 2 | cu yd | $40.00 | $80.00 |
| 3 | Delivery | 1 | trip | $75.00 | $75.00 |
- Subtotal
- $155.00
- Likely range
- $131.75 – $178.25
- Bulk usually wins on price above two or three cubic yards; bags are easier for small beds and tight access.
- Measure irregular beds as several rectangles, or use average length × average width.
Buy these materials
Bags are listed below. Bulk is ordered from a local landscape yard.
- 25 2 cu ft bags of mulchAmazon search for 2 cu ft bags of mulch (opens in new tab)
Links open a store search for each item. Check sizes and grades against your plan.
Quick reference
- A cubic yard of mulch covers 108 sq ft at 3 in deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 in.
- One cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch.
- Mulch (cu yd) = length × width × depth in inches ÷ 324. A 20 × 10 ft bed at 3 in is 1.85 cu yd.
How it's calculated
⌈x⌉ means round up to the next whole unit; ⌊x⌋ means round down. Every quantity you buy is rounded up.
Volume (cu ft) = length × width × depth ÷ 12 × (1 + extra ÷ 100)Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27Bags = ⌈ cubic feet ÷ bag size ⌉Bulk order = cubic yards rounded up to the sale incrementWeight (tons) = cubic yards × tons per cubic yardBag cost = bags × bag price; bulk cost = bulk yards × price per yard + delivery; range = cost × (1 ± range % ÷ 100)
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft bed is 200 sq ft. At 3 in deep that is 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cu ft, or 1.85 cu yd. In 2 cu ft bags that is 25 bags ($112.50). Bulk, rounded up to the nearest 0.5 yd, is 2 cu yd ($155.00 with delivery).
Questions
How deep should mulch be?
2 to 3 in for most beds. Deeper than 4 in can starve roots of air. Keep it a few inches back from tree trunks and house siding.
How many bags of mulch in a yard?
13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, since a cubic yard is 27 cu ft.
Is bulk mulch cheaper than bags?
Usually, once you need more than two or three yards, even after delivery. For a small bed or a spot you can only reach by wheelbarrow, bags are simpler.
Cite: “Mulch Calculator.” EstimaHome, https://estimahome.com/mulch-calculator/. Updated 2026-10-20. Formulas in machine-readable form: /api/calculators.json.