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How much mulch you need in cubic yards and 2 or 3 cu ft bags, with bulk versus bagged cost.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Mulch needed | 0.74 yd³ |
| 2 cu ft bags | 10 bags |
| Bulk cost (delivered) | $67 – $128 |
| Bagged cost | $35 – $50 |
| Bed area | 80 sq ft |
| Depth | 3 in |
| Volume | 0.74 yd³ (20 cu ft) |
| Mulch type | Shredded hardwood |
| 2 cu ft bags | 10 bags |
| Coverage per cubic yard | 108 sq ft |
| Bulk price used | $30 – $45 per yd³ + delivery |
Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches away from tree trunks and house siding to prevent rot and pests.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.