Mulch calculator
Cubic yards and bags from bed size and depth. Two to three inches is the usual bed depth; more than four smothers roots.
To work out how much mulch you need, multiply length by width by depth in feet and divide by 27: that is cubic yards. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so at 2 cu ft a bag that is about 14 2 cu ft bags to the yard. Order about 10 percent over the calculated number for compaction, spillage and uneven grade.
Pro habit: Buying by the yard beats bags past about 1 yard (2 yd³ with cushion here). One yard equals 13.5 of the 2 cu ft bags.
Mulch settles about 25 percent in the first season, so a 3 inch bed reads closer to 2 inches by fall. Weights are common industry approximations; confirm with your supplier before ordering.
The number above assumes a few things about how this material behaves in the ground.
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TrackOver runs dirt-work companies: jobs, crews, stamped site photos, machine hours, and billing in one place. Built inside a working excavation company.
Common questions
How do I calculate how much mulch I need?
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. This mulch calculator does it for you: enter length and width in feet and depth in inches, and it returns cubic yards. Add about 10 percent for compaction, spillage, and uneven grade.
How many 2 cu ft bags are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so at 2 cu ft per bag that is about 14 2 cu ft bags per yard. Past roughly a yard, buying in bulk usually beats bags on price and effort.
Is this mulch calculator free?
Yes. It is a free tool from TrackOver, software built inside a working excavation company for contractors who move dirt. No signup required to use it.
TrackOver keeps the job, the photos, the hours and the invoice in one place, on the office screen and every crew phone.
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