How Much Mulch Do I Need? The Ultimate Mulch Calculator

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It gets confusing sometimes to calculate the mulch you need, its cost, coverage and its weight. Down below are the four calculators that you can use to calculate mulch amount, coverage, weight, and cost:

1. Mulch Calculator

You can use the calculator below to calculate the amount of mulch you need in different units like cubic feet, cubic yards, and the number of cubic feet bags:

[Calculator id=’1′]

The above calculator needs just two values to calculate mulch which is mulch depth and area. Also, keep in mind that your area should be in the square foot (ft2) unit and mulch depth should be in Inch (In) unit before you hit calculate button.

Formula to Calculate Mulch You Need: Mulch Volume (ft3) = Area (ft2) x depth (ft)

I have also calculated the mulch for some common areas that many people have:

Area CoveredMulch DepthMulch You Need
1 square foot30.25 ft3
200 square foot350 ft3
400 square foot3100 ft3
800 square foot3200 ft3
1000 square foot3250 ft3
Circle of 1-foot radius30.785 ft3
1 square meter30.08 m3
1 square yard30.08 yd3

Relevant Questions About Amount

How much rubber mulch do I need?

The rubber mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Rubber Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tip: If you are calculating rubber mulch for residential uses then keep mulch depth to 3 inches and if you are calculating rubber mulch for commercial uses then keep the mulch depth to 6 inches.

How much playground mulch do I need?

The playground mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Playground Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tip: Try to keep playground mulch depth at 8-12 inches when you calculate mulch for your area. An 8-12 inch depth of playground mulch keep the soil protected.

How much bark mulch do I need?

The bark mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Bark Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tip: When you calculate bark mulch for your area try to keep its mulch depth to 3-4 inches so it won’t deteriorate fast over time when you finally lay that mulch on the soil.

How much mulch do I need for my garden?

The garden mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want by the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow three different formulas to calculate garden mulch based on the different shapes of your garden.

Garden ShapeFormula to Calculate Mulch
SquareGarden Mulch You Need (ft3) = Length x Width (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)
RectangularGarden Mulch You Need (ft3) = Length x Width (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)
CircularGarden Mulch You Need (ft3) = πr2 (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

How much mulch do I need for a flower bed?

The flower bed mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Flower Bed Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tip: Try to keep mulch depth to 2-4 inches when you lay down mulch on a flower bed.

How much mulch do I need around a tree?

The tree mulch you need can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Tree Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tips: Keep tree mulch to a depth of 3 inches and do not mulch just around the stem of tree otherwise it will cause mulch volcano which is bad for tree growth.

How much mulch do I need to prevent weeds?

The mulch you need to prevent weeds can be calculated by multiplying the mulch depth which you want and the area you want to cover. You can calculate the mulch with the above calculator or follow the formula given below:

Mulch You Need to prevent weeds (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

Tip: Keep in mind the mulch you are using. There are different mulches to prevent weeds and each prevents weeds depending upon weed mulch thickness and type.

How do you calculate mulch for a circular area?

The mulch for a circular area is calculated by the following formula:

Mulch You Need (ft3) = Area (ft2) x Mulch Depth (ft)

where Area=πr2 and r=radius of the circle. Keep in mind to keep all units in ft when you calculate.

How much mulch in a bobcat scoop?

A bobcat scoop is the equivalent of 2/3 of a cubic yard which weighs approx. 700 lbs

2. Coverage (Area) Calculator

You can use the calculator below to calculate the area that a mulch can cover like calculating how much cubic yard, cubic feet or one bag of mulch will cover.

[Calculator id=’2′]

The above calculator needs just two values to calculate mulch which is mulch depth and mulch amount you have. Also, keep in mind that your mulch depth should be in the inch unit and the mulch amount should be in the cubic yard unit before you hit calculate button.

If your mulch amount is in cubic feet, simply divide your mulch amount by 27 and you will get the mulch amount in cubic yard unit

Formula to Calculate Coverage: Mulch Coverage (ft2) = Mulch Vol. (ft3) / Mulch depth (ft)

I have already calculated area coverage for a different amounts of mulches as mentioned in the table below:

Amount of MulchMulch Depth (Inch)Area Coverage
1 Cubic Yards of Mulch3108 ft2
2 Cubic Yards of Mulch3216 ft2
3 Cubic Yards of Mulch3324 ft2
4 Cubic Yards of Mulch3432 ft2
5 Cubic Yards of Mulch3540 ft2
6 Cubic Yards of Mulch3648 ft2
7 Cubic Yards of Mulch3756 ft2
8 Cubic Yards of Mulch3864 ft2
9 Cubic Yards of Mulch3972 ft2
10 Cubic Yards of Mulch31080 ft2
11 Cubic Yards of Mulch32160 ft2

Relevant Questions About Coverage

How much does a bag of mulch cover?

The simple answer is that you should know the volume of your bag. Any bag of mulch comes in 2 specific volumes which can be in square feet or cubic feet units. For both bags, the area covered by mulch us given below:

Bags of MulchMulch Depth (Inch)Area Coverage
2 Cubic Feet of Mulch Bag38 ft2
3 Cubic Feet of Mulch Bag312 ft2

How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Cover?

To know “how much mulch do you need for my yard”, simply use the calculator above or manually calculate mulch coverage as given below:

To exactly calculate how much does 1 cubic yard of mulch will cover and what depth you need to do some math which is damn easy.

First You need to know two things that will help you to measure the coverage. These things are:

  1. Mulch Depth (Mulch depth is usually 3 inches)
  2. Mulch Volume (Mulch volume is the mulch in the cubic yard you have and want to spread on your area.)

First, you need to convert all measurements in the foot so you can finally measure coverage for your area that is also in the foot square. So, the first goal is to keep all units the same in order to do the math correctly.

First, convert mulch depth from inch to foot. For example, if you want a mulch depth of 3 inches in a foot unit it will be a mulch depth of 0.25 which is calculated by dividing 3 by 12 as there is 12 inches in one foot.

Second, convert the mulch you have from cubic yard to cubic foot. If you have 1 cubic yard of mulch in a foot unit it will be 27 Cubic feet as 1 cubic yard =27 cubic feet.

Now divide the mulch you have by mulch depth and it will be equal to the covered area. Formula is given below:

Area to Cover = (1 Cubic Yard of Mulch * 27) / (3 inch Mulch Depth / 12) = 108 Foot Square

or in a simple way:

Area to Cover = 27 Cubic Foot of Mulch / 0.25 Foot Mulch Depth = 108 Foot Square

So the 1 cubic yard of mulch can cover an area of 108 ft2.

3. Mulch Weigh Calculator

Down below is the calculator that you can use to calculate the mulch weight for the mulch in cubic yard amount:

[Calculator id=’3′]

The above calculator needs just one value to calculate mulch which is the mulch amount you have. Also, keep in mind that your mulch amount should be in cubic yard units before you hit calculate button.

If your mulch amount is in cubic feet, simply divide your mulch amount by 27 and you will get the mulch amount in cubic yard unit

A general thumb role to know the weigh of of a mulch with certain volume is that one cubic yard of mulch is equal to 400-800 pounds. This is a range of mulch weigh because each mulch bears different weight depending upon its moisture content. More the moisture content, more will be the weight of mulch and vice verca.

Here is a simple formula to know the weight of mulch:

Minimum Weight: Mulch Weigh (pounds) = Mulch Vol. (yd3) x 400

Maximum Weight: Mulch Weigh (pounds) = Mulch Vol. (yd3) x 800

I have already calculated mulch weight for different amounts of mulches as mentioned in the table below:

Mulch VolumeMin. Mulch Weight (pounds)Max. Mulch Weight (pounds)
1 Cubic Yard (yd3)400800
2 Cubic Yard (yd3)8001600
3 Cubic Yard (yd3)12002400
4 Cubic Yard (yd3)16003200
5 Cubic Yard (yd3)20004000
6 Cubic Yard (yd3)24004800
7 Cubic Yard (yd3)28005600
8 Cubic Yard (yd3)32006400

Relevant Questions About Weight

How much does a pallet of mulch weigh?

To know the weight of a pallet of mulch, you need to break it down into two parts:

  • Mulch Weight
  • Pallet Weight

Mulch Weight:

Mulch usually comes in form of a bag and along with a pallet, it is transported. Then, it reaches the dealer and people purchase from them. On each bag of mulch, the weight of the bag alone is mentioned as 2 or 3 Cubic Feet. It is the unit of volume. And two cubic feet of mulch can range from 20 to 200 pounds. Some mulches and their weight are mentioned below:

Mulch BagWeight
Bark Mulch (2 cubic foot bag)20 lbs
Straw Mulch (2.5 cubic foot bag)50 lbs
Rubber Mulch (0.8 cubic foot bag)35 lbs
Stone Mulch (2 cubic foot bag)185.18 lbs

Pallet Weight:

Pallet weight depends upon the material, it is made of. There are different pallets material that is used in transportation by logistics companies. Usually pallet’s weight range from 30-48 pounds according to a logistic company called freight. Also, you should know now that a standard size pallet (40*48 inches) can hold 54 bags of volume of 2.8 cubics as mentioned by Royal Wood Shavings. In simple words, there can be 135 cubic feet of bags of mulch that a standard pallet can hold.

Now coming back to the question of how much a mulch pallet weighs, you can calculate by summing up the mulch bag weight and pallet weight. So, the formula is:

Weigh of Pallet of Mulch = Empty pallet weight + Mulch bag weight

In short, when you lay down 45-60 bags of mulch that has a volume of 1.5 cubic feet each on a standard-sized pellet, the total mulch pallet weight will be 1901 lbs to 2545 lbs including the pallet weight.

How much does a skid of mulch weigh?

A skid is the oldest type of pallet that some mulch manufacturers may use nowadays. The weigh measurement for the skid is the same as for the pallet. All you need to do is to check the weight of the skid plus the weight of the mulch bags it is holding. A skid usually weighs around 35-40 lbs and can hold 45-60 bags. So, a skid holding 45-60 bags of mulch (1.5 cubic feet bags each) can weigh around 1908-2537 pounds.

How much does a scoop of mulch weigh?

A scoop of mulch weighs approximately 400 to 750 lbs when checked on Digital Hanging Scale. The moisture content of mulch matters. The more the moisture content, the more will be the scoop weight of mulch and vice versa.

How much do bags of mulch weigh?

The weight of a bag of mulch depends upon the volume of the bag. Usually, the mulch bags come in 0.8-1.5 cubic foot packing. And a 0.8 cubic foot mulch bag weighs around 22.2 pounds. So if you do reverse match, it tells one bag of mulch weighs around 27.75 pounds. Moreover, you can see some calculations below based on a mulch bag of volume1.5 cubic feet:

Number of bagsBag Volume/PackingTotal Weight
1 Bags1.5 ft341.62 lbs
10 Bags1.5 ft3277.5 lbs
20 Bags1.5 ft3555 lbs
40 Bags1.5 ft31110 lbs

How much does a bag of rubber mulch weigh?

A rubber mulch comes in three different bags and each bag weighs different. Each bag along with its weight is mentioned below:

Mulch BagWeight (lbs)
0.8 Cubic Feet (Cu. Ft.)22.5
1.5 Cubic Feet (Cu. Ft.)42.2

Also, keep in mind that most sellers like Homedepot sells rubber mulch in form of bags pallet. Like they sell 50 bags of mulch pallets which means each bag is 1.5 cubic feet of packing and their total weight is the sum of the weight of bags and the empty pallet itself.

How much does a yard of bark mulch weigh?

A cubic yard of bark mulch weighs approximately 600 lbs.

How much does a bag of black mulch weigh?

A bag of black mulch weighs around 16 lbs to 22.2 lbs if the bag packing is 0.8 cubic feet.

How much does a bag of cypress mulch weigh?

The average of weighing dry cypress mulch is around 20-22.2 lbs if the cypress pack is of 0.8 feet cubic volume. It gets more when the mulch is fresh. Also, weight becomes approximately 45 lbs when you sprinkle some water on it when laying down cypress mulch.

How much does a bag of red mulch weigh?

A red mulch bag is basically a redwood material made out of forest products. A red mulch bag typically has a volume of 1.5 cubic feet, produced by many manufacturers. And the weight of this red mulch bag is around 41.62 pounds.

4. Mulch Cost Calculator

Down below is the calculator you can use to know “how much does mulch cost”, also the labor and material cost is included in the calculation:

[Calculator id=’4′]

You can simply put values of mulch cost and labor cost, the above calculator simply gives you a sum of both costs.

Relevant Questions About Cost

How much does a yard of mulch cost?

The cost of a cubic yard of mulch depends upon the one most important factor which is the “type of mulch”. Different types of mulches cost differently. Different mulches mean they are made from different materials like pine mulch, bark mulch, rubber mulch, wood mulch, etc. Though, typically mulches cost between $18 to $70 per cubic yard. Based on different mulches types some factors are mentioned below:

Mulch TypeCost Per Cubic Yard
Pine Bark$28-30
Pine Straw$35-37
Shredded Hardwood Mulch$45-47
Tea Tree Mulch$45-47
Hemlock Mulch$45-50
Redwood Mulch$65-70
Bark Mulch$72-75
Wood Chips$78-79
Cedar Mulch$101-103
Cypress Mulch$108-110
Pine Needles $142-145
Rubber Mulch$218-221

You can use the above values and multiply with the number of cubic yards to know the cost of each mulch per cubic yard. Down below, the cost for 1 to 20 cubic yards of mulch and 1 to 2000 square feet, is mentioned.

Note: I have taken a minimum value of $28 to a maximum value of $221 as reference cost per cubic yard and later I have multiplied each cost with each increment in cubic yard below:

Cost for 1 to 20 Cubic Yards of Mulch

Mulch Amount (yd3)Mulch Depth (Inch)Mulch Cost ($)
1 Cubic Yard3$28-221
2 Cubic Yard3$56-442
3 Cubic Yard3$84-663
4 Cubic Yard3$112-884
5 Cubic Yard3$140-1105
6 Cubic Yard3$168-1326
7 Cubic Yard3$196-1547
8 Cubic Yard3$224-1768
9 Cubic Yard3$256-1989
10 Cubic Yard3$280-2210
11 Cubic Yard3$308-2431
12 Cubic Yard3$336-2652
13 Cubic Yard3$364-2873
14 Cubic Yard3$392-3094
15 Cubic Yard3$420-3315
16 Cubic Yard3$448-3536
17 Cubic Yard3$476-3757
18 Cubic Yard3$504-3978
19 Cubic Yard3$532-4199
20 Cubic Yard3$560-4420

Cost for 1 to 20 Square Feet of Mulch

Down below the mulch costs are calculated for 1-2000 square feet of mulch alone. Keeping the minimum value of $1 to the maximum value of $8 per square foot.

Mulch Amount (ft2)Mulch DepthMulch Cost
1 Square Foot3$1-8
10 Square Foot3$10-80
20 Square Foot3$20-160
30 Square Foot3$30-240
40 Square Foot3$40-320
80 Square Foot3$80-640
100 Square Foot3$100-800
120 Square Foot3$120-960
150 Square Foot3$150-1200
200 Square Foot3$200-1600
300 Square Foot3$300-2400
350 Square Foot3$350-2800
400 Square Foot3$400-3200
450 Square Foot3$450-3600
500 Square Foot3$500-4000
600 Square Foot3$600-4800
700 Square Foot3$700-5600
800 Square Foot3$800-6400
900 Square Foot3$900-7200
1000 Square Foot3$1000-8000
1500 Square Foot3$1500-12000
2000 Square Foot3$2000-16000

Other costs

Also if you want to calculate the total cost of mulching then it is more because other costs also get added to your mulching cost per cubic meter which are

  • Labor cost
  • Deliver Cost
  • Maintenance Cost

Labor cost is the important cost added when you want to hire someone for mulching. On average a landscaper charges $25-50 per cubic yard to install your mulch the way you want. Some landscapers charge hourly like $45-100 per hour. This labor cost is added to your total mulch cost per cubic yard. Labor also increases when you want your weeds, grass or any herbs to be removed first before laying mulch. Also, if you want to do some edging or remove dirt from one place to another or walkways edging then it will also add to your labor cost as these are extra services.

Deliver cost is something that is subject to your location and the cubic yard amount of mulching you are purchasing different sellers charge different delivery fees based on your location. On average, delivery charges vary from $40-140.

Maintenance charges also add to your total cost per cubic mulch when you want landscapers to maintain your mulch, remove old mulch, or add more mulching to your yard.

Mulch Blowing mulching blowing is the use of special tools to mulch your yard by landscapers and do their job in minutes after blowing mulch. This cost varies between $35 and $58 per cubic yard.

Weed Removal by hand cost you between $30-60 per hour. Though with premium quality herbicides like preen, and other weed-removing tools your cost on average is $70 to $120 per cubic yard.

Edging is another cost when you want curbing. Curbing means the use of edging tools to give your lawn a manicured look. On average edging costs yard owners around $700-1500.

Mulch Cost if You Do Do Mulching by Yourself

If you don’t want to hire anyone for mulching and do everything by yourself then it will be a purchase cost of mulch and tools cost you need for mulching.

As already told, mulch cost is typically 28-70 per cubic yard which you will face when DIY mulching. The tool you need and their costs are mentioned below:

ItemAvg. Cost
Garden Trowel$10
Gardening gloves$15
Face Mask$5
Shovel$25
Landscape rake$58
Wheelbarrow$90
Total Average Cost: $203

How much mulch per square meter?

The cost of mulch per square meter is typically from a minimum of $21.40 to $168.96.

How much rubber mulch per square foot?

The cost of rubber mulch for one square foot area where you will be keeping mulch depth of 1 foot thick is $8.07 to 8.14.

How much is a yard of rubber mulch?

The cost of a cubic yard of rubber mulch is $218-220 on average.

How much is a yard of pine bark mulch?

The cost of a cubic yard of rubber mulch is $28-30 on average.

How much is black mulch by the yard?

The average cost of black mulch by a yard is around $40 to $60.

How much is a yard of mulch in cubic feet?

A cubic yard of mulch is equal to 27 cubic feet of mulch. For example, if you have one cubic yard of mulch in a bag then it will be equal to 27 cubic feet bags of mulch.

How much is a cubic foot of mulch?

The cost of cubic feet of mulch varies between $1 to $8.

How much is bark mulch?

The average cost of bark mulch is $72-75 for an amount of one cubic yard.

How much is a bag of mulch?

The cost of a bag of mulch depends upon the type of mulch and its volume. Also, different market sellers offer different prices in different areas. Typically, the price of one bag of mulch fall in the range of $2-10 per bag that has a volume of 2 cubic feet. Black or brown mulch 2 cubic feet bag is around $2-6 whereas cedar, red, or dyed-mulches one bag costs you around $3-10.

How much is a bag of mulch at Home depot?

The price of a bag of mulch at Homedepot depends upon the type of mulch you are buying. There are different mulches available at Homedepot which cost you around $3.97 to 7.47 when the big vol is 0.8-1.5 cubic feet. For example, the black mulch at Homedepot costs you $3.97 per 2 cubic feet excluding the delivery cost.

How much is a bag of mulch at Walmart?

At Walmart, the pricing for mulch depends upon the mulch type. You can find the mulches at Walmart in a price range of $2.47 to $33.75 per 2 cubic feet. For example, the price of black mulch at Walmart is $3.48 per 2 cubic feet. Also, you can use the Walmart search bar and search the mulch you need to know the exact price of mulch and its delivery cost.

How much is a bag of mulch at Lowes?

At lowes, a bag of mulch costs you around $3.98 to $14.98 per cubic foot. Also, the price varies with the mulch type. For example, the cost of black mulch is around $3.98 per cubic foot bag whereas the cost of brown mulch is $6.98 per 0.8 cubic foot.

How much is a bag of rubber mulch?

The cost of rubber mulch varies with the volume of a bag. For example, the Vigoro company is selling rubber mulch at Homedepot with a volume of 0.8 cubic feet at $7.47. Where a rubber mulch pallet of 50 bags, each bag having a volume of 1.5 cubic feet costs around $767.

How much is a bag of red mulch?

The red mulch cost is dependent on its type. For example, a recycled rubber red mulch costs you around $7.47 (0.8 cubic feet) whereas a redwood mulch costs you around $3.33 (1.5 cubic feet).

How much is a bag of mulch at Menards?

A bag of mulch at Menards costs differently which totally depends upon the volume of bag and type of mulch you are buying. If you are buying a bag of volume 0.8 cubic feet the minimum price is $5.60 and if you are buying a bag of volume 2 cubic feet the minimum price is at Menards. Also, the different type of mulch costs different. For example, Nuplay black mulch costs you around $6.2 (0.8 Cu. Ft. bag) whereas EZ-Straw Seeding Mulch (2.5 Cu. Ft. bag) at Menards.

How much is a bag of cedar mulch?

A 2 Cu. Ft. bag of cedar mulch costs a minimum of around $4.44 at Menards. Where, a 2 Cu. Ft. bag of cedar chips costs a minimum of around $6.21 at Menards.

How much is a truckload of mulch cost to delliver?

A truckload of mulch costs you around $50-300 which usually has 2 to 22 cubic yards of mulch in it. Actually, there are two types of truckload that deliver you mulch at a different price depending on their size. These truckloads are:

  • Dump truck
  • Pickup truck

Dump Truck

It cost you $150-300 for dump truck delivery on average. A dump truckload of mulch costs you around. A standard-size dump truck can have 10 cubic yards of mulch whereas the largest dump truck can have 22 cubic yards of mulch in it.

Pickup Truck

It cost you $50-80 for pickup truck delivery on average. A smaller pickup truck load of mulch can have 1.5 cubic yards of mulch. A standard-size pickup truck load can have 2 cubic yards of mulch whereas a large pickup truck can have 3 cubic yards of mulch.

How much is a pallet of mulch?

The cost of a pallet of mulch depends upon the type of mulch you are buying. For example, a pallet of 75 cu. ft. Red Recycled Rubber Mulch (50 Bags) cost you around $706 whereas a pallet of Vigoro 37.5 cu. ft. Black Recycled Rubber Mulch (25 Bags) cost you around $487 at Homedepot.

How much is a ton of mulch?

The amount of a ton of mulch equals 1.4 cubic yards ( as 1 ton = 1.4 * cubic yard ) which cost you on average $56.

How much is mulch at Speedway?

The speedway mulch bags depends upon the deal they sell. They break deals like $10 price for 10 bags of mulch which usually cost you around $33 at Homedepot or Lowes. But do check the size of bags before you buy it should be the same as that of Homedepot or Lowes but with a lesser price.


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Jack

After doing my master’s in agriculture, I went on with this field for more than 15 years because I love working in green. I have experienced using modern machinery and techniques that can help farmers and landscapers to achieve something great. My goal will be to deliver you the best reviews and information to make the right decision.

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