Loan Mulch Calculator
Mulch math without the parking-lot guesswork. Enter your bed area and how deep you want it, and get cubic yards for a bulk delivery and the bag count for the hardware-store run — with both costs, because the cheaper route flips with the size of the job.
Depth guide: 2 in to refresh existing mulch, 3 in for a standard new bed, 4 in where weeds are winning. If you fill in the bed length and width, they replace the area figure.
How it works
Volume = area × depth, with depth in feet: that gives cubic feet, and dividing by 27 gives cubic yards — the bulk-delivery unit. The standard mulch bag holds 2 cubic feet, so bags = cubic feet ÷ 2, rounded up. One cubic yard equals 13.5 bags, which is the conversion behind every bulk-vs-bagged price comparison.
Formula & worked example
Formula: Volume = bed area × depth, with depth converted to feet. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27; bags = cubic feet ÷ 2, because the standard mulch bag holds 2 cu ft. One cubic yard is 13.5 bags.
Worked example: Beds totaling 200 sq ft at 3 in deep need 50 cu ft of mulch: 1.85 cubic yards, or 25 bags. At $3.50 a bag that is $87.50; bulk at $35 a yard runs about $64.81 before delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How much mulch for 200 sq ft at 3 inches deep?
200 sq ft × 3 in is 50 cubic feet: 1.85 cubic yards, or 25 bags of 2 cu ft. At $3.50 a bag that is $87.50; a bulk yard-and-a-bit at $35 a yard runs about $65 plus delivery — close enough that convenience decides on a job this size.
How many bags of mulch in a cubic yard?
Thirteen and a half 2 cu ft bags make 27 cubic feet, so 14 bags to be safe. If the bag is 1.5 cu ft (some brands), it is 18 bags per yard — check the bag size printed on the front before comparing prices.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches for most beds: enough to hold moisture and suppress weeds, not so much that water cannot reach the soil. Four inches only for new beds over bare, weedy ground. Never pile it against tree trunks — the "mulch volcano" rots bark.
Bulk or bags — which is cheaper?
Bags usually win under about a cubic yard (no delivery fee, no driveway pile); bulk wins beyond that, often by half. The calculator prices both on your exact volume so you can see where your job lands.
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