LANDSCAPE PLANNING
How much mulch do I need?
Mulch quantity comes down to three measurements: the bed's length, width, and desired depth. From there you can estimate cubic yards for bulk delivery or the number of bags for smaller projects.
How to calculate mulch
For a rectangular bed, multiply length × width to get square feet. Convert mulch depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12, then multiply by the bed area. Divide the resulting cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Example: 20 ft × 6 ft bed at 3 inches
The bed covers 120 square feet. A 3-inch depth equals 0.25 feet, so 120 × 0.25 = 30 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and the estimate is about 1.11 cubic yards.
If buying 2-cubic-foot bags instead, 30 ÷ 2 = 15 bags.
Measure the real bed
- Break irregular beds into smaller rectangles and add their volumes.
- Do not assume every landscaping project needs the same mulch depth.
- Check the bag volume printed on the product because bag sizes vary.
- For bulk orders, consider how the supplier sells and rounds material quantities.