Free mulch calculator: enter your bed size and depth to get cubic yards, number of mulch bags, and a bulk-vs-bag cost comparison. No sign-up.
Mulch Needed
4.63cu yd
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. Bags = ceil(cubic yards × 27 ÷ bag cubic feet).
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a 2 cu ft bag count uses 13.5 bags per yard before rounding up.
Mulch is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the cubic foot in bags, so comparing the two takes a little math. Enter the length and width of your beds and the depth you want — 3 inches is the standard recommendation for most landscape beds — and this mulch calculator converts it to cubic yards, rounds up to whole bags, and prices both options side by side. One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at one inch of depth; coverage falls as depth rises. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper for large beds, while bags win for small touch-ups.
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. Bags = ceil(cubic yards × 27 ÷ bag cubic feet).
A 50 by 10 foot bed holds 500 square feet. At 3 inches deep the math is 500 × 3 ÷ 324 = 4.63 cubic yards. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 4.63 yards is about 125 cubic feet — at 2 cubic feet per bag that is 63 bags when rounded up. Bulk at $45 per yard costs $208.33; bags at $5 each cost $315.00, so bulk saves about $107 here.
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a 2 cu ft bag count uses 13.5 bags per yard before rounding up.
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Multiply length by width in feet to get square feet, multiply by depth in inches, and divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 500 square foot bed at 3 inches deep needs 4.63 cubic yards, or 63 bags at 2 cubic feet per bag. Enter your own numbers above for an exact answer with a cost comparison.
It depends on bag size: 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet equal one cubic yard, 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet — before rounding up. Bulk buyers should use the yard figure; small projects are easier to buy by the bag.
Three inches is the standard recommendation for landscape beds: deep enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture, shallow enough for roots to breathe. One to two inches is enough for topdressing over existing mulch; never exceed four inches around trees and shrubs.
Bulk is usually cheaper for projects over a few cubic yards — a 4.63 yard job runs about $208 in bulk versus $315 in bags at typical prices. Bags win for small touch-ups under about one yard, and they let you carry mulch without a truck.
Yes, as long as the total depth stays under 4 inches. Add the new layer to the old depth in the calculator — if last year's 2 inches remain, a 1 to 2 inch topdressing is plenty. Break up any matted old mulch with a rake first so water can pass through.