Find how many cubic yards or bags of mulch you need to cover your beds at the right depth.
The method behind this calculator
Measure the beds you want to mulch, choose a depth, and this mulch calculator tells you the volume in cubic yards plus how many bags to buy. Most bagged mulch comes in 2 cubic-foot bags.
A 2–3 inch layer suits most beds. The calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards and rounds the bag count up so you don’t come up short.
How to use it
- Enter the length and width of the bed (or the diameter for a round bed).
- Set the depth — usually 2–3 inches.
- Pick your bag size to see how many bags, or read the cubic yards for bulk delivery.
The calculation
volume (ft³) = area (ft²) × depth (ft)
cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27
bags = ft³ ÷ bag size (round up)
A worked example
Take the starting scenario, a length of 10, width of 10, diameter of 10. That gives a material needed of 0.93. Underneath, Cubic yards comes out at 0.93 and Cubic feet at 25. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
FAQ
How thick should mulch be?
2–3 inches for most beds. Too thick can smother roots and hold too much moisture against stems.
How many bags of mulch in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so about 13–14 bags of the common 2-cubic-foot size.
When should I refresh mulch?
Usually once a year. Rake and fluff what’s there first, then top up only to your target depth.