Mulch Calculator
Find out how many cubic yards or bags of mulch a flower bed needs. Enter the bed length, width and depth — 3 inches is the standard for a refresh — and the calculator converts to cubic yards, cubic feet and bag counts, with an allowance for settling.
Cubic yards needed
2.04 cu yd
Bags needed
28 bags
Bed area
200 sq ft
Volume before allowance: 1.85 cu yd (50 cu ft) · Estimated cost: $140.00
How to use this mulch calculator
- Measure the bed length and width in feet.
- Set the depth in inches — 2–3 inches for a refresh, 4 for a new bed.
- Choose your bag size, or read the cubic-yard figure for bulk delivery.
- Keep the 10% allowance for settling and irregular edges.
- Enter a price per bag to estimate the total cost.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches is right for an existing bed; up to four inches for a new bed. More than four inches can suffocate roots and block water from reaching the soil.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, or 9 bags of 3 cu ft. Suppliers sell mulch by the cubic yard, so the bulk figure is usually cheaper for large beds.
Why is there a waste allowance?
Beds are rarely perfectly rectangular and mulch settles after watering. Ordering about 10% extra avoids a second trip to the garden centre.
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