How Many Bags of Mulch Are in a Yard?
By Nick · Updated
A cubic yard of mulch is 27 cubic feet. That is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, so buy 14, or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet. Divide 27 by the size printed on your bag for any other size.
Work out bags for your bedsKey figures
- One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.
Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C
- Mulch is sold in 2 and 1.5 cubic foot bags.
Source: Vigoro and Scotts mulch, 2 cu ft bags (Home Depot listing); Scotts Nature Scapes mulch (1.5 cu ft bag)
- Garden beds need 2 to 3 inches of mulch.
Source: University of Illinois Extension (2018); UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping
- At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers 108 square feet.
How many cubic feet are in a yard of mulch?
27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard and bagged mulch by the cubic foot. Converting between them is the whole trick to comparing prices.
Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C
How many bags make a yard for each bag size?
Divide 27 by the bag size in cubic feet, then round up.
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cu ft | 27 | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | 14 |
| 3 cu ft | 9 | 9 |
How much area does one bag cover?
A 2 cubic foot bag covers 12 square feet at 2 inches deep, or 8 square feet at 3 inches.
Divide the bag's cubic feet by the depth in feet. At 3 inches, that is 2 ÷ 0.25 = 8 square feet.
A 1.5 cubic foot bag covers 9 square feet at 2 inches and 6 square feet at 3 inches.
Is bagged or bulk mulch better for a big job?
Compare the price per cubic foot. Divide the bag price by its size, and the bulk price by 27.
Bags are easier to carry and store. Bulk usually means one delivery instead of a dozen trips, so price both before you buy.
Other questions
How many 2 cubic foot bags cover 100 square feet?
13 bags at 3 inches deep (25 cubic feet) and 9 bags at 2 inches (16.7 cubic feet).
How many bags of mulch are in half a yard?
Half a yard is 13.5 cubic feet: 7 bags of 2 cubic feet or 9 bags of 1.5 cubic feet.
How we worked this out
Bag counts are 27 cubic feet divided by the bag size, rounded up. Coverage is bag volume divided by depth in feet. Bag sizes come from retail listings, and the depth guidance from university extension services.
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C
- Vigoro and Scotts mulch, 2 cu ft bags (Home Depot listing)
- Scotts Nature Scapes mulch (1.5 cu ft bag)
- University of Illinois Extension (2018)
- UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping