Estimate cubic yards, bag counts, and cost for garden beds, borders, and tree rings.
4 shapes · 2–4 in presets · Bag counts
Mulch is usually ordered by the cubic yard or in two-cubic-foot bags. Depth matters more than mulch color — too thin and weeds show through; too thick and water may not reach roots.
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Multiply bed area by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Most beds use 2–4 inches of mulch. Add 5–10% extra for uneven edges and settling.
Apply 2–3 inches in beds, keeping mulch pulled back from trunks. Tree rings often use 2–3 inches over the root zone. Avoid piling mulch against bark.
Divide total cubic feet by 2 and round up. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, so one yard needs about 14 two-cubic-foot bags. Enter your bed size in the calculator for an exact count.
A 100 sq ft bed at 3 inches deep needs about 0.93 cubic yards raw volume, or roughly 13 two-cubic-foot bags before extra allowance.
Measure the circle diameter or use the circle mode. A 6 ft diameter ring at 3 inches deep is about 0.26 cubic yards — often 4–5 two-cubic-foot bags with a small waste allowance.
Bags work well under about one cubic yard. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper for large beds and full-yard refreshes. Compare bag price × count against a delivered cubic-yard quote.
Many landscapes refresh mulch once a year. Shredded hardwood settles faster than bark nuggets. Use the calculator to top off only the depth you have lost rather than guessing.
Multiply bed area by depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add 5–10% for uneven edges and settling. Most landscape beds use 2–4 inches of mulch depth.
A 10×10 ft garden bed at 3 inches deep needs about 0.93 cubic yards raw volume, or roughly 13 two-cubic-foot bags before allowance.
Raw volumes at typical depths. Use circle mode for tree rings.
For stone paths nearby, try the pea gravel calculator or gravel calculator.
Two-cubic-foot bags are easy for small beds and tree-ring touch-ups. Once you approach one cubic yard, compare a bulk delivered quote — about 14 two-cubic-foot bags per cubic yard adds up quickly at retail.
The calculator shows 2 cu ft and 3 cu ft bag counts plus bulk-vs-bagged cost when you enter both prices.
Use 2 inches when refreshing an existing bed, 3 inches for new installs and tree rings, and 4 inches when you need stronger weed suppression or cover on sloped beds. Pull mulch back from trunks and stems.
Shredded hardwood settles faster than bark nuggets. If you mulch annually, calculate only the depth you have lost rather than the full target depth every year.
