How much mulch do I need?
One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. Measure the bed, pick a depth, and divide.
Measure the bed's length and width in feet and multiply them to get square feet. Then use the depth you want:
| Depth | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 2 inches (top up an existing bed) | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches (new bed, weed control) | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches (paths, heavy weed pressure) | 81 sq ft |
A bed 20 feet long and 6 feet wide is 120 square feet. At 3 inches that is 120 ÷ 108 = 1.1 yards, so order 1.5 if the yard sells half yards, or 2 if it doesn't.
The math behind the table: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and 3 inches is a quarter of a foot, so 27 ÷ 0.25 = 108 square feet. The calculator does this for any shape and depth.
Bags or bulk
Bagged mulch usually comes in 2 cubic foot bags, so one yard is 13.5 bags. Below a yard, bags are often easier. Above two or three yards, bulk from a yard is usually cheaper per yard: the 246 yards on this site that post a bulk mulch price have a middle price of $32 per cubic yard.
Getting it home
A full size pickup holds about 2 yards of mulch, because mulch is light (roughly 400 to 800 pounds a yard, heavier when wet). For more than that, delivery by dump truck is the usual route. Many yards have a delivery minimum, often 2 to 5 yards, and charge by distance. Each listing shows the fee and minimum when the yard publishes them.
Before you order
- Ask whether colored mulch is dyed, and what wood is under the dye.
- Look at the pile if you can. Mulch made from yard waste can carry plastic, weeds or debris.
- Keep mulch a few inches back from tree trunks and the house's siding.