Optional. Leave at zero to skip the cost estimate.
An estimate. Bag volumes vary slightly between brands, and settled mulch takes up less space than fresh. Buying one extra bag is cheaper than a second trip.
Calculated entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
Measure the bed
Length and width in feet. Pick the shape so curved beds are not overestimated.
Choose a depth
Three inches is standard. Two for a refresh, four to suppress weeds.
Check the bulk warning
Past about two cubic yards, bulk delivery almost always beats bags.
How the calculation works
Volume is area times depth, converted from inches to feet. Bags are sold by cubic foot, so the count is that volume divided by bag size, rounded up.
The shape factor matters more than people expect. A circular bed is about 78 percent of the rectangle containing it, and a triangular one about half. Measuring a curved bed as a rectangle overestimates by a quarter or more.
The cost comparison exists because the crossover surprises people. At two cubic yards you are carrying around 27 bags from the car, and bulk is usually close to half the price per yard delivered.
What this calculator does not do
It does not account for settling. Fresh mulch compresses over the first few weeks, which is why beds look thin a month later.
Bag volumes vary between brands and materials. Shredded hardwood, pine bark and rubber all pack differently at the same stated volume.
It does not tell you which mulch to use. Depth guidance differs by material, and some should not be used around certain plants.
Questions
How deep should mulch be?
Three inches for most beds. Two for a top-up, four if weed suppression is the goal.
How many bags in a cubic yard?
Thirteen and a half two cubic foot bags, or nine three cubic foot bags.
Should mulch touch plants?
No. Keep it a few inches clear of trunks and stems. Piling it against bark traps moisture and causes rot.
How often does it need replacing?
Wood mulch usually needs topping up annually as it breaks down into the soil. That is a benefit, not a fault.
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