Lost in Cubic Yards and Square Feet? Here’s a Simple Guide to Calculating Mulch Needs

So you’ve decided to mulch your garden beds? Smart move!

Mulch can be incredibly beneficial to your gardening project as it helps in retaining moisture, adding organic matter to soil, regulating soil temperature, and more.

But before you go ahead and apply mulch randomly, remember that you need to apply the right amounts to reap all these benefits.

If you apply too little mulch, your garden beds won’t benefit much from it. In case you’re too generous when applying mulch, you can accidentally damage your plants.

Choosing the right depth is key when applying mulch – and this process can be a bit daunting for beginners.

In this guide, we’ll tell you how much mulch you need and answer every question about mulch you might have in mind. Let’s jump in.

How Much Mulch Is In a Bag?

The amount of mulch in a bag varies depending on the mulch type, brand, and specific products.

But mulch is usually sold by volume, and most mulch bag sizes range from 1 ft³ to 3 ft³. However, the majority of mulch bags are 2 ft³. Some mulch bags are also labeled in gallons.

If you’re buying commercial mulch, inspect the product label and the description on the package to determine how much mulch is in the bag. If you can’t find it, contact the seller instead.

How Much Does a Bag of Mulch Weigh?

The weight of a bag of mulch depends on several factors, such as the type of mulch, bag size, and moisture content. Let’s take wood mulch as an example:

A bag of dry shredded wood mulch has an average weight of around 20 pounds. Meanwhile, if the shredded wood mulch is saturated with water, the bag will be almost double in weight.

The type of mulch also affects the bag’s weight.

For example, straw mulch is often sold in bags containing 1 or 2.5 ft³ of mulch. A 1 ft³bag of straw mulch weighs around 20 pounds, while 2.5 ft³ bags weigh approximately 50 pounds.

How Much Mulch Per Square Foot?

To calculate the amount of mulch you need per square foot, decide how deep you want your mulch layer to be first. A general rule of thumb is: keep the mulch thickness between 2 to 3 inches.

After that, calculate the area to be covered in square feet. Do this by measuring the length and width of the area in square feet where you want to apply mulch.

For example, if your garden bed is 10 feet by 10 feet, then your area is 100 square feet. This works if you have a rectangular or square garden.

In case you have a round garden bed, you have to measure from the center of your bed to the edge to calculate the radius. Then, multiply the radius by itself and multiply the result by π (3.14) to get the area.

Now, decide on your desired mulch depth in inches. Commonly used mulch depths range from 2 to 4 inches.

Then, divide the desired mulch depth by 12 to convert it to feet. So, for instance, if you choose a mulch depth of 2 inches, that’s around 0.167 feet because there are 12 inches in a foot.

The final step is to multiply the area needed to be covered in square feet by the desired mulch depth in feet. With this formula, you calculate the volume of mulch needed.

So, let’s say you have a 100-square-foot bed, and you want to apply 3 inches of mulch. In that case, you’ll need 25 ft³ of mulch.

How Much Mulch Is a Cubic Yard?

Mulch is usually sold by the cubic yard, sometimes referred to as “yard.”

If you opt for bulk mulch instead of commercial mulch bags, you’ll often encounter the question: How many yards of mulch do you need? To calculate this, you need to get cubic yards out of your square feet.

Simply divide your square feet by 324. That’s because at one inch deep, every cubic yard of mulch covers a 324-square-foot area.

But don’t forget to multiply your square footage by the desired depth in inches first!

For example, let’s say your area is 1000 square feet, and you want the mulch to be 3 inches deep. Then, you’ll need around 9 cubic yards of mulch.

How Many Bags of Mulch Are in a Yard?

Commercial mulch bags are often sold in cubic feet—unlike bulk mulch that comes in yards. So, generally speaking, you can’t use the previous calculation to know how many bags of mulch you need.

The number of mulch bags in a yard mainly depends on the size of the bags. Most mulch bags are sold in sizes ranging from 1 to 3 ft³, but most bags hold 2 ft³ of mulch.

So, if you’re buying 2 ft³ mulch bags, you’ll need around 13.5 mulch bags for each cubic yard. That’s because there are 27 ft³ in one cubic yard.

How Many Bags of Mulch Are on a Pallet?

The number of mulch bags on a pallet depends on the size of the bags and pallets – and there’s no universal size for both. However, the average pallet can hold around 65 to 75 bags of mulch.

The average size of pallets is 40 in × 48 in (100 cm × 120 cm). Mulch bags often have different volumes too, as they’re sold in sizes ranging from 1 to 3 ft³.

As a rough estimate, an average pallet can hold around 65 to 70 bags of 2 ft³ mulch. You can expect the same pallet to hold fewer bags if the bags are heavier.

For example, if the bags are 3 ft³ each, the pallet will hold around 40 to 50 bags.

How Much Rubber Mulch Do I Need?

If you’re buying rubber mulch for your gardening, landscaping, or playground project, calculate the area needed to be covered first.

You can do this by measuring the length and width of the area and then multiplying the dimensions to get the square footage. If your space is circular, measure from the center of the area to the edge to get the radius, then multiply the radius by π (3.14).

Next, decide on the depth of the rubber mulch, then multiply the desired depth by the area to calculate the cubic footage needed.

Since rubber mulch is often sold in cubic yards, you need to convert the cubic feet to cubic yards – simply divide the number by 27.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say the area you want to cover is 100 square feet, and the depth of rubber mulch is 2 inches. This means you’ll need around 7 or 8 cubic yards of rubber mulch.

FAQs

How much mulch does a yard cover?

Generally speaking, one cubic yard of mulch covers an area of 324 square feet. Those numbers apply if you want your mulch to be 2 inches deep.

Simply put, to calculate how much mulch you need to cover a yard: multiply the desired square footage area by the desired depth in inches and divide the result by 324.

How tall is a pallet of mulch?

There isn’t a universal height for mulch pallets, and that’s because it depends on many factors. Those include the size and number of bags and how tightly the bags are stacked.

For the most part though, manufacturers usually don’t stack mulch bags more than 60 inches high for safety reasons.

How much mulch fits in a truck bed?

The amount of mulch that can fit in your truck bed can vary depending on the dimensions of your truck bed, size of bags, and mulch depth. But in most cases, regular pickup trucks can carry a maximum of around 40 mulch bags.

Final Thoughts

That’s it! Everything you need to know about calculating your mulch needs.

Remember that ending up with too much or too little can prohibit your soil from reaping the benefits of mulch. So, take your measurements accurately, make your calculations, and have a fun trip to your local garden center.