How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Weigh?
By Nick · Updated
A cubic yard of wood chip mulch weighs about 243 pounds dry and 473 pounds green, according to the US EPA. That makes a 2 cubic foot bag about 18 to 35 pounds. Wet mulch is at the heavy end.
Work out how much mulch you needKey figures
- Wood chips: 243 lb per cubic yard dry, 473 lb green.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
- That is 0.12 to 0.24 tons per cubic yard.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
- A 2 cubic foot bag: about 18 to 35 lb.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
Why does the weight vary so much?
Water. Green (fresh) wood chips weigh nearly twice as much as dry ones.
Bagged mulch that has sat out in the rain will be near the green figure. Mulch from a covered pile will be lighter.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
How much does a bag of mulch weigh?
Multiply the bag's cubic feet by the weight per cubic yard, then divide by 27.
| Bag | Dry | Green |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 cu ft | 14 lb | 26 lb |
| 2 cu ft | 18 lb | 35 lb |
| 3 cu ft | 27 lb | 53 lb |
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
How many yards of mulch fit in a pickup?
Check two limits: how many cubic yards the bed holds, and how much weight the truck can carry.
Measure the bed in feet, multiply length × width × height, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Then check that the yards × 473lb stays under your truck's payload.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
Other questions
Is mulch sold by weight or by volume?
By volume: cubic yards in bulk and cubic feet in bags.
How many tons is a yard of mulch?
About 0.12 to 0.24 tons, dry to green.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
How we worked this out
Weights per cubic yard are the US EPA's published volume-to-weight factors for wood chips. Bag weights are worked out from them: weight per yard × bag cubic feet ÷ 27.
Sources
- US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
- NIST Handbook 44 (2024), Appendix C