Mulch Calculator
Multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 10 × 20 ft bed at 3 inches takes 1.85 cubic yards of mulch, or 25 bags of 2 cubic feet.
Updated October 15, 2026 · How we calculate
Worked example
A 10 × 20 ft garden bed, 3 inches of mulch:
- Area: 10 × 20 = 200 square feet
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
- Volume: 200 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet
- Cubic yards: 50 ÷ 27 = 1.852 cu yd
- Weight: 1.852 × 243 to 473 lb ÷ 2,000 = 0.23 to 0.44 tons
- Bags: 50 ÷ 2 = 25 2 cu ft bags
- Bags: 50 ÷ 1.5 = 34 1.5 cu ft bags
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
How to choose and how deep
How deep
Spread 2 to 3 inches on garden beds.
Source: University of Illinois Extension (2018); UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping
Bags or bulk
Bagged mulch comes in 2 and 1.5 cubic foot bags. Check the bag: the size is printed on the front, and the calculator counts both.
Source: Vigoro and Scotts mulch, 2 cu ft bags (Home Depot listing); Scotts Nature Scapes mulch (1.5 cu ft bag)
Weight
Mulch is light: wood chips weigh 243 to 473 lb per cubic yard, depending on how wet they are. It is sold by volume, not weight.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)
Quick reference
| Depth | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
Questions people ask
How deep should mulch be?
2 to 3 inches on garden beds.
Source: University of Illinois Extension (2018); UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping
How many bags of mulch make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet (buy 14), or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet.
How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
162 square feet at 2 inches deep and 108 square feet at 3 inches.
How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?
Wood chips weigh about 243 pounds per cubic yard dry and 473 pounds green.
Source: US EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (2016)