Mulch calculator
Enter the bed size and how deep you want the mulch. You get bulk cubic yards and the number of bags. Many hardwood chipped or shredded mulches are spread 2–4 inches thick.
Calculator
Results appear here.
How to use it
- Measure the bed (break odd shapes into rectangles and circles and add them up, or enter square feet directly).
- Choose a depth.
- Buy the bulk cubic yards or the number of bags shown.
The formula
One cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches.
Gear for this job
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- Bagged hardwood mulch — [affiliate link placeholder]
- Garden wheelbarrow — [affiliate link placeholder]
- Bow rake — [affiliate link placeholder]
- Landscape edging — [affiliate link placeholder]
Frequently asked questions
How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
About 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches (324 ÷ depth in inches).
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft.
How deep should mulch be?
Iowa State Extension says many hardwood chipped or shredded mulches are spread 2–4 inches thick.
How much mulch for 200 square feet?
At 3 inches deep: 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards (25 bags of 2 cu ft).
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-22. Found an error? Tell us.