Mulch Calculator — Cubic Yards for Bulk Delivery
Order by the yard, not the bag. Enter your bed dimensions to get the exact cubic yardage to give your supplier — with bags shown for comparison.
Tip for bulk orders: Round up to the nearest half-yard when placing your order. Excess mulch can be used for new beds or stored; running short means a second delivery charge.
Bed Size
How the math works
Step 1 — volume
cubic_feet = length_ft × width_ft × (depth_in ÷ 12) Step 2 — cubic yards
cubic_yards = cubic_feet ÷ 27 There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard (3 × 3 × 3).
Step 3 — bags
bags = ⌈ cubic_feet ÷ bag_size ⌉ Rounded up to whole bags — a 2 cu ft bag covers about 8 sq ft at 3″ deep, 12 sq ft at 2″. A cubic yard ≈ 13.5 of those bags.
Cubic yards quick reference
| Bed size | At 2" | At 3" (rec.) | At 4" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 yd | 0.93 yd | 1.23 yd |
| 20 × 10 ft | 1.23 yd | 1.85 yd | 2.47 yd |
| 50 × 10 ft | 3.09 yd | 4.63 yd | 6.17 yd |
| 100 × 20 ft | 12.35 yd | 18.52 yd | 24.69 yd |
Formula: cubic yards = (sq ft × depth in inches) ÷ 324
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True Temper 6 cu-ft Steel Wheelbarrow (Never-Flat)
Bulk mulch lands in a pile on the driveway — a 6 cu-ft barrow is how you get yards of it to the beds without forty trips. The never-flat tire means it is ready every spring.
Bully Tools 16" Steel Bow Rake (USA)
The flat back of a bow rake levels mulch to the even depth this calculator priced, so you do not run short in one spot or pile it too deep over the roots.
VEVOR 4×100 ft Woven Weed Barrier (5.8 oz)
A woven fabric under the mulch blocks weeds without blocking water. One roll covers a typical bed run before you spread.
Worth Garden No-Dig Steel Edging (6-pack)
Steel edging keeps mulch in the bed and off the lawn, so the depth you calculated stays put instead of washing onto the grass.
HANDLANDY Thorn-Proof Leather Gauntlet Gloves
Handling bark mulch and pulling weeds shreds bare hands; pigskin gauntlets take the splinters and thorns.
Truper 10-Tine Bedding / Mulch Fork
A 10-tine bedding fork moves loose mulch far faster than a shovel — it lifts a big bite and lets the fines fall through.
Dry Top 10×12 ft Poly Tarp
Have bulk mulch dumped on a tarp instead of bare concrete — it keeps the driveway clean and makes dragging the last of it to the bed easy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. The constant 324 = 27 × 12, converting the answer from cubic inches to cubic yards. For example, 20 × 10 ft at 3 inches = 20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324 ≈ 1.85 cubic yards.
Most suppliers require a minimum of half a yard to one full yard. At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet — roughly a 10 × 11 ft bed.
Total square footage × depth (in) ÷ 324. A 5,000 sq ft landscape at 3 inches needs about 46 cubic yards. Order by the truckload (typically 10–15 yards per delivery) to reduce per-yard cost.
Some suppliers sell by the half-yard. For very small amounts, bagged mulch is more practical. Use the break-even calculator to see which is cheaper for your volume.
The supplier drops a loose pile in your driveway or a designated spot. You spread it with a wheelbarrow and mulch fork. Confirm the drop site has vehicle access — most delivery trucks need a firm surface and clearance of at least 12 feet.