Mulch Calculator

Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 10 × 10 ft bed at 3 in is 25 cu ft, or 0.93 cubic yards: 13 bags of 2 cu ft.

13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 9 bags of 3 cu ft, or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.

324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, and 81 sq ft at 4 in.

At 3 in deep, 25 cu ft: 13 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft. At 2 in, 16.67 cu ft: 9 bags of 2 cu ft.

24 sq ft at 1 in deep, 12 sq ft at 2 in, 8 sq ft at 3 in, and 6 sq ft at 4 in.

25 bags of 2 cu ft is 50 cu ft: 300 sq ft at 2 in deep or 200 sq ft at 3 in. 20 bags cover 240 sq ft at 2 in or 160 sq ft at 3 in.

60 bags of 2 cu ft is 120 cu ft, or 4.44 cubic yards. 60 bags of 3 cu ft is 6.67 cubic yards.

2 to 4 in around trees and shrubs, and 1 to 2 in around flowers and vegetables (Nebraska Extension). Illinois Extension says 3 to 4 in for coarse mulch and 2 to 3 in for composted material; UGA Extension says 3 to 5 in for the most water savings. Thick layers can mat down and keep water and air from the roots.

A rule of thumb for trees, repeated online as 3 in deep, 3 in from the trunk, and a 3 ft ring. We could not trace it to a standard. Illinois Extension says 2 to 4 in deep, at least 4 in from the trunk, and out to the dripline or as far as possible. The same sheet also says a 3 ft radius ring is the maximum for most trees, which sits oddly with mulching to the dripline of a large tree.

At least 4 in, according to Illinois Extension, which lists mulch piled against the trunk and root flare among the most common causes of tree decline. Nebraska Extension says never to put mulch against the bark.

For a ring 3 ft out from the trunk's center, around an 8 in trunk with a 4 in gap, at 3 in deep: 26.88 sq ft and 6.72 cu ft, or 4 bags of 2 cu ft. Choose Ring around a tree to enter your own sizes.

EPA's figures for wood chips are 243 lb per cubic yard dry and 473 lb green. Rubber mulch is heavier, about 675 to 702 lb per cubic yard from GroundSmart's specification.

Compare the bulk price per cubic yard, plus delivery, with 13.5 times the price of a 2 cu ft bag. Nebraska Extension notes that bagged single-species mulch is often more expensive than bulk. Enter both prices here to compare them for your job.

Prices vary by product and region, so we do not list one. A yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, which lets you compare a supplier's yard price with bag prices; enter both above.

Divide 27 by the wheelbarrow's capacity in cubic feet: 4.5 loads with a 6 cu ft wheelbarrow, 27 ÷ 6.

Measure the bed inside: length × width × how high you will fill it, in feet, divided by 27. For example, a bed 6.5 × 5 ft filled level 1.5 ft high holds 48.75 cu ft, or 1.81 cubic yards. Two yards is 54 cubic feet. Check the truck's payload against the weight too.

CPSC's public playground handbook calls for at least 9 in of wood chips (protecting to a 10 ft fall height) or wood mulch (7 ft), kept at that depth. Because loose fill settles at least 25%, start at 12 in. Shredded rubber needs 6 in for a 10 ft fall height.

Work out the cubic feet here, then the bags or weight. 2,000 lb of rubber mulch is about 76.9 cu ft (GroundSmart), which covers about 154 sq ft at 6 in deep or 308 sq ft at 3 in. A 0.8 cu ft bag covers 3.2 sq ft at 3 in.

UGA Extension says one bale covers 50 sq ft at 5 in deep, so 1,000 sq ft takes 20 bales. Choose Pine straw to scale it to your depth or use the coverage on your bales' label.

27 bags of 2 cu ft, 18 bags of 3 cu ft, or 36 bags of 1.5 cu ft. Two yards is 54 cubic feet.

By the cubic yard; bagged mulch is labeled in cubic feet. If your supplier sells in half or whole yards, use the Bulk order output, which rounds up to the next half yard.

300 sq ft at 3 in deep, or 150 sq ft at 6 in, CPSC's playground depth for shredded rubber.

For public playgrounds, CPSC lists shredded rubber: 6 in protects to a 10 ft fall height, and it does not settle like wood. In garden beds, Nebraska Extension says initial research has shown toxic materials can leach from rubber as it degrades, potentially harming plant growth, that shredded rubber has hazardous fire characteristics, and that its use as a landscape mulch is not widely recommended.

In CPSC's public playground table, 9 in of wood chips and 6 in of shredded rubber both protect to a 10 ft fall height, more than wood mulch (7 ft), pea gravel (5 ft), or sand (4 ft). CPSC also lists any material tested to ASTM F1292, such as engineered wood fiber and rubber tiles or poured surfaces, and says loose fill should be avoided for playgrounds intended for toddlers. Match the surface and depth to the equipment's fall height.

It can be. CPSC says engineered wood fiber may look like landscaping mulch but is made for playground surfacing, should meet ASTM F2075, and should be tested to ASTM F1292. Rubber mulch made for playgrounds should also be tested to ASTM F1292.

Yes, around annuals, perennials, and vegetables. Nebraska Extension says to shred them and let them partly decompose first, and to keep leaf mulch no more than 1 in deep so it does not mat down.

Yes: mulch goes on the soil surface. Nebraska Extension says to water the soil thoroughly before mulching, and does not recommend landscape fabric under mulch for most settings, since weeds grow through it and seeds sprout in the mulch on top.

Not always. Nebraska Extension says high-quality wood mulch may need only a light topdressing each year, with full replacement after two to four years, and to rake to check the depth first. Enter only the depth you are adding.

It depends on the bed. Nebraska Extension says pine straw decomposes slowly, so it needs less frequent topdressing, and is easy to refresh by raking, though thick layers can mat down. Compare prices with the Price per bag or bale input.

Yes, if the old layer is not already deep. Nebraska Extension says to rake mulched areas to check their depth and break up matted layers before remulching; Illinois Extension says to refresh with a rake if enough is there. Enter only the depth you are adding.