Mulch Calculator
Cubic yards of mulch needed for a landscape area.
Formula
yd³ = Area × depth_in / 324
How to use
- 1Measure the bed length and width in feet.
- 2Pick a depth: 2-3 in for established beds, 3-4 in for new ones.
- 3Read cubic yards, cubic metres and bag counts.
- 4For beds over ~3 yd³, price bulk delivery against bags.
About this calculator
Mulch holds moisture in the soil, keeps weeds down, steadies soil temperature and gives beds a finished look. The trick is the right amount at the right depth: too thin does little, too thick can smother roots. This calculator turns bed size and depth into cubic yards, cubic metres and a bag count, so you can choose between bulk delivery and bagged mulch.
Formula explained
Volume (yd³) = Area (ft²) × Depth (in) ÷ 324. The 324 comes from 12 inches per foot × 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. 1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³. Bagged mulch usually comes in 2 or 3 cubic foot sizes, so bags = (yd³ × 27) ÷ bag size.
Worked example
200 ft² × 3 in ÷ 324 ≈ 1.85 yd³ (about 50 ft³), which is 25 bags of 2 cu ft or 17 bags of 3 cu ft. Around here, bulk delivery usually beats bags.
Tips & notes
- Pick the material and depth first, then measure and add a small margin for settling and edges.
- Keep mulch a couple of inches clear of stems and trunks to avoid rot.
- Refresh existing beds with a 1-2 inch top-up, since old mulch underneath still counts.
- Split irregular beds into rectangles and add the volumes.