Beds 2-3 inches, around trees 3-4 inches. Keep under 3 inches near stems. All-purpose, natural.
Typical bulk price for hardwood: $35/yard
Area
200 sq ft
Depth
3"
1 yd³ covers
108 sq ft
Cost / sq ft
$0.32
One cubic yard of mulch (about 13.5 bags) covers:
324 sq ft
at 1"
162 sq ft
at 2"
108 sq ft
at 3"
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Quick answer: how much mulch you need
To find how much mulch you need, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. One cubic yard of mulch equals about 13.5 bags (2 cubic feet each) and covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, or 324 sq ft at 1 inch. For a 20 by 10 ft bed at 3 inches, that is about 1.85 cubic yards or 25 bags. Keep mulch 2-3 inches deep in beds and 3-4 inches around trees, but never piled against stems. Bulk hardwood mulch costs $30-$40 per cubic yard, dyed $35-$45, and cedar $40-$55; bagged runs $3-$6 per bag. Installed labor adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Mulch is sold by the cubic yard in bulk or by the bag. Start with your volume: multiply the bed area (length times width in feet) by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
A cubic yard of mulch equals about 13.5 bags of the standard 2 cubic foot size and covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. Order 10 percent extra for settling and edging, and keep mulch 2 to 3 inches deep so it does not suffocate plant roots.
| Depth | Coverage per Cubic Yard | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | Refresh existing mulch |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Established beds |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | New beds and borders |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | Around trees and shrubs |
| Mulch Type | Bulk Cost / Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | $30 – $40 | All-purpose, natural |
| Dyed (black/brown/red) | $35 – $45 | Color-retaining |
| Cedar | $40 – $55 | Aromatic, insect-resistant |
| Pine Bark | $35 – $50 | Acid-loving beds |
Bagged mulch runs $3 to $6 per 2 cubic foot bag. Since a cubic yard equals about 13.5 bags, bulk delivery is cheaper above about one cubic yard. Installed labor typically adds $2 to $5 per square foot.
To find how much mulch you need, multiply the length by the width by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For example, a 20 by 10 ft bed at 3 inches deep is 200 sq ft x 0.25 ft = 50 cubic feet, which is about 1.85 cubic yards or roughly 25 bags. Use the calculator above to do the math for any bed size and depth.
A cubic yard of mulch equals about 13.5 bags of the standard 2 cubic foot size, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. If your bags are 3 cubic feet, a cubic yard is about 9 bags. Above roughly one cubic yard, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than buying bags.
Apply mulch 2 to 3 inches deep in garden beds and 3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs. Never pile mulch against stems or tree trunks, and keep the total depth under about 3 inches near plants, because too much mulch suffocates roots and holds excess moisture against the crown.
Bulk hardwood mulch costs $30 to $40 per cubic yard, dyed mulch $35 to $45, and cedar $40 to $55. Bagged mulch runs $3 to $6 per 2 cubic foot bag. Since a cubic yard equals about 13.5 bags, bulk is usually cheaper for anything over a yard. Installed labor adds $2 to $5 per square foot on top of the material.
One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 81 square feet at 4 inches, or 324 square feet at 1 inch. Coverage is 324 divided by the depth in inches, because a cubic yard contains 324 square-foot-inches of material.
