Mulch Calculator — Yards & Bags
Enter the area and desired depth to get the cubic yards and bags of mulch required.
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How it works
cubic yards = (area_sqft × depth_in) ÷ 324; bags = (area_sqft × depth_in ÷ 12) ÷ 2
Bags of mulch by area and depth (2 cu ft bags)
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 9 bags | 13 bags | 17 bags |
| 200 sq ft | 17 bags | 25 bags | 34 bags |
| 500 sq ft | 42 bags | 63 bags | 84 bags |
| 1,000 sq ft | 84 bags | 125 bags | 167 bags |
For the standard 2 cu ft bag. One cubic yard of mulch covers about 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep and equals about 13.5 of these bags (round up to 14). Above ~1 yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. The common bag holds 2 cu ft, so a yard equals about 13.5 bags — round up to 14 to fully replace one bulk yard. If your bags are 3 cu ft, it takes 9 of them per yard.
How many bags of mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
At a typical 3-inch depth, 100 sq ft needs about 0.93 cubic yard of mulch — roughly 13 of the 2 cu ft bags. At 2 inches it is about 9 bags, and at 4 inches about 17 bags.
How deep should mulch be?
2–3 inches is standard for established beds; 3–4 inches helps suppress weeds and hold moisture. Avoid piling mulch against stems and trunks, and rake old mulch before topping it up.