Over-excavation, spillage and uneven subgrade. 5-10% for formed work, 10-15% on rough ground.
Yields are the figures printed on the bag. Speciality mixes differ — check yours.
Optional. Leave at zero to skip the cost estimate.
Material quantity estimate for planning and purchasing. Not structural engineering advice, not a bid, and not a code determination.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
It takes 13.5 bags of 2 cubic foot mulch to make a cubic yard, or 9 bags at 3 cubic feet.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. At the standard 3 inch bed depth, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet — so 100 square feet of bed takes roughly 12.5 bags of the 2 cubic foot size.
At $4-5 a bag that is $54-68 per cubic yard against $30-45 delivered in bulk, so bulk wins on price from about two yards up. Bags win when you cannot take a delivery or the beds are scattered around the property.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches on an established bed. Three inches suppresses weeds and holds moisture; much more than that and you start to starve roots of air and encourage the bed to hold water against stems.
For a topdress over existing mulch, 1 inch is enough — and rake the old layer first rather than adding to a matted crust, which sheds water instead of absorbing it.
Keep mulch off trunks and stems. Volcano-mulching a tree traps moisture against the bark and invites rot and girdling roots; pull it back to a few inches clear of the trunk flare.
| Depth | Covers per yd³ | 2 ft³ bags per 100 ft² | 3 ft³ bags per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² | 5 | 3 |
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 9 | 6 |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 13 | 9 |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 17 | 12 |
Bags or bulk?
It takes 13.5 bags of 2 cubic foot mulch to make a cubic yard, or 9 bags at 3 cubic feet. At $4-5 a bag that is $54-68 per cubic yard against $30-45 delivered in bulk, so bulk wins on price from about two yards up — roughly 27 bags, or 700 square feet at 3 inches deep.
Bags win when you cannot take a delivery, when the beds are scattered around a property, or when you want to spread it over several weekends. A yard of bulk mulch on the driveway is a commitment.
Common questions
How many bags of mulch in a cubic yard?
13.5 bags at 2 cubic feet each, or 9 bags at 3 cubic feet. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How much mulch do I need for 500 square feet?
At 3 inches deep, 500 square feet needs 125 cubic feet, which is 4.63 cubic yards or 63 bags of 2 cubic foot mulch.
How deep should mulch be to stop weeds?
Three inches. Less than two does not block light effectively, and more than four starts to cause problems with air and water reaching the roots.
How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?
About 500 lb dry for shredded hardwood and 400 lb for bark, but soaking wet it can double. A half-ton pickup will take two to three cubic yards of dry mulch by weight, though volume runs out first.