Find out exactly how much mulch to buy for your beds and borders - in cubic yards for bulk delivery or the exact number of bags.
3 inches is the standard depth for weed suppression and moisture retention.
Measure the bed's length and width in feet and choose your depth - 3 inches is standard for weed suppression and moisture retention. The maths is area x depth, converted to volume: a 10 x 4 ft bed at 3 inches deep is 40 square feet, and needs 10 cubic feet of mulch - about 0.37 cubic yards, or five 2 cu ft bags. This calculator does the same working for round and triangular beds and lets you add a second bed to one order.
Bags or bulk? One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 13.5 standard 2 cu ft bags to equal one yard. Bags usually win below 2-3 cubic yards; above that, bulk delivery is cheaper per yard but adds a delivery fee. This calculator shows both, with costs if you enter your local prices.
Order a little extra. Bulk mulch settles and compacts 10-20% in the first weeks, and bagged mulch varies by brand. Gardeners split on it, but one extra bag or a slight over-order of bulk is cheaper than a second trip or a second delivery fee.
About 13.5 bags of the standard 2 cu ft size, or 9 bags of 3 cu ft - one cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
3 inches for most beds. Use 2 inches to refresh existing mulch and 4 inches on new beds over bare soil.
Yes - the volume maths is the same for any loose ground-cover material. Bag counts assume the standard 2 or 3 cu ft bags.
Under about 2-3 cubic yards, bags are usually cheaper once delivery fees count. Above that, bulk nearly always costs less per yard.
Planning the rest of the project? Try the Concrete Calculator, Tile Calculator, Volume Converter and all Home Building Calculators.