How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?

A cubic yard of mulch covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, and 81 square feet at 4 inches. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to get the coverage for any depth.

How many bags of mulch are in a yard?

There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so a yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet. Most garden centres sell 2 cubic foot bags, which is why a small bed can quickly need 20 or 30 bags.

How deep should mulch be?

Two to three inches for flower and shrub beds, three to four inches over bare soil you want to keep weed-free, and two inches around vegetables. Deeper than four inches starts to suffocate roots, and piling mulch against trunks invites rot and rodents.

Is bulk mulch cheaper than bags?

Yes, once you need more than about two cubic yards. Bulk hardwood mulch runs roughly $30 to $45 per yard plus a $45 to $95 delivery fee, while the same volume in bags costs $47 to $68 per yard before tax. Below one yard, bags avoid the delivery fee and usually win.

How much mulch do I need for a 10x10 area?

A 10 by 10 foot bed is 100 square feet. At 3 inches deep that is 0.93 cubic yards — about 13 bags of 2 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet. At 2 inches it drops to 0.62 cubic yards, or 9 bags of 2 cubic feet.

Sand, Soil & Mulch

Mulch Calculator

Measure each bed, choose a depth, and this mulch calculator returns cubic yards for a bulk delivery and the number of 2 or 3 cubic foot bags if you are buying at the store — plus what each option costs. Most beds need 2 to 3 inches; go to 4 inches only on bare ground you are trying to smother weeds on.

What you'll need

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Prices as of Sep 25, 2026, 6:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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Frequently asked questions

How much area does a cubic yard of mulch cover?: A cubic yard of mulch covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, and 81 square feet at 4 inches. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to get the coverage for any depth.
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?: There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so a yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet. Most garden centres sell 2 cubic foot bags, which is why a small bed can quickly need 20 or 30 bags.
How deep should mulch be?: Two to three inches for flower and shrub beds, three to four inches over bare soil you want to keep weed-free, and two inches around vegetables. Deeper than four inches starts to suffocate roots, and piling mulch against trunks invites rot and rodents.
Is bulk mulch cheaper than bags?: Yes, once you need more than about two cubic yards. Bulk hardwood mulch runs roughly $30 to $45 per yard plus a $45 to $95 delivery fee, while the same volume in bags costs $47 to $68 per yard before tax. Below one yard, bags avoid the delivery fee and usually win.
How much mulch do I need for a 10x10 area?: A 10 by 10 foot bed is 100 square feet. At 3 inches deep that is 0.93 cubic yards — about 13 bags of 2 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet. At 2 inches it drops to 0.62 cubic yards, or 9 bags of 2 cubic feet.