Mulch Calculator
Cubic yards, bags, and the cheaper way to buy. Free, instant, and private — everything runs on your device.
2″ to refresh, 3″ for bare beds — never more than 4″
Your mulch estimate
- Bagged (2 cu ft bags)
- 6 bags · $27
- Bulk delivery (0.5 yd ordered)
- $23
- Cubic yard covers (at your depth)
- ≈ 108 sq ft
Bags win here: under about a cubic yard, bagged mulch costs about the same, hauls in a car trunk, and needs no shoveling from a pile.
Mulch is sold two ways — by the bag and by the cubic yard — and picking the wrong one is the most common way people overpay. This calculator converts your bed's real measurements into cubic feet and cubic yards, counts the bags you'd need, and then tells you straight: at your local prices, is bulk delivery or bagged mulch the better deal?
It handles rectangular and circular beds, and lets you set your target depth. Two to three inches is right for most beds; anything past four suffocates roots and invites fungus.
How it works
No black box — this is the exact math the calculator runs.
- Rectangular beds: volume = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) in cubic feet.
- Circular beds: volume = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × (depth ÷ 12).
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 — this is how bulk mulch is sold.
- Bags needed = cubic feet ÷ 2 (standard bags are 2 cu ft), rounded up.
- Cost comparison = bags × price per bag vs. yards × bulk price per yard, so the cheaper option is obvious before you buy.
Last reviewed July 24, 2026 · Garden & Landscaping
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 13.5 standard 2-cu-ft bags. If bags cost $4 each, a yard's worth in bags runs about $54 — which is why bulk mulch at $30–$50 per yard usually wins once you need more than one yard.
How deep should mulch be?
2–3 inches for most flower and shrub beds. Use 3 inches for weed suppression in open beds, but keep mulch pulled a few inches back from trunks and stems. Never exceed 4 inches — deep mulch holds too much moisture against roots.
How much does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet. At 2 inches, about 162 square feet. The calculator does this conversion automatically from your measurements.
Should I buy mulch in bags or in bulk?
Under about one cubic yard, bags win on convenience and similar price. Over a yard, bulk delivery is nearly always cheaper per yard — often 30–40% less — if you have a driveway spot for the pile and a wheelbarrow to move it.