Every DIYer has experienced the frustration of making repeated trips to the home improvement store or garden center because they need more – more paint, more wood, more seed and, yes, more mulch for their landscaping beds.

We can help with the mulch part. It’s a simple matter of measuring each bed’s length and width for square footage, then deciding on your desired depth (typically 2 to 3 inches). You convert these measurements to cubic yards or bags and add a little extra to account for uneven terrain and settling.

This article will explain how to calculate your mulch needs, and we even offer a super easy mulch calculator for those who believe, like I do, that math is best left to mathematicians.

How mulch is sold

Typically, the bagged mulch you get from garden centers and home improvement stores is measured in cubic feet. Some nurseries sell larger bulk quantities by the cubic yard.

Bulk mulch

Buying mulch in bulk is generally more cost effective, especially if you’re tackling a big landscaping project. It’s typically sold in cubic yards (a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet) and is about 35% cheaper than bagged mulch. 

To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply the cubic yards by 27. For example: 0.5 cubic yards x 27 = 13.5 cubic feet. Or 2 cubic yards x 27 + 54 cubic feet.

Bagged mulch

Bagged mulch is great for small landscaping projects, such as mulching a flower bed, garden, or small patio. It’s sold in cubic feet, often in standard 2-cubic-foot bags. 

To convert bagged mulch into cubic yards, simply divide the total cubic feet by 27 (since 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). So, 20 cubic feet of bagged mulch divided by 27 equals 0.74 cubic yards (or 1 cubic yard rounded up).

Step 1: Measure your space

Step 2: Determine mulch depth

In new beds and vegetable gardens: You need 2 to 3 inches of mulch to help retain moisture, improve airflow, and keep pesky weeds out. Worth noting is that “weeds that practically need a stick of dynamite to be removed in tight soil can usually be easily plucked in a well mulched bed,” says Norman Winter, horticulturist at Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center.

In existing beds: If you’re refreshing existing mulch, just add 1 to 2 inches to keep it effective.

Around trees and shrubs: Spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch to help them grow strong and healthy. Try to avoid volcano mulching, or piling mulch too high up the trunk or stem. It can cause root rot, pest issues, poor airflow, and even trunk damage. For trees, leave a 3 to 6-inch gap around the base. For shrubs and smaller plants, mulch 3 to 4 inches from the stem.

Read more:

• How Deep Should Mulch Be?
• How to Mulch Around Trees

Step 3: Plug data into our mulch calculator

Sure, you COULD use paper and pencil to figure out how much mulch you need for your landscaping beds. But this handy calculator will give you the same result without taxing your No. 2 pencil and wearing out your eraser.

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Mulch quantity quick guide

If you want a ballpark-type estimate, here’s a quick reference for how much mulch you need for a given space. These numbers assume a mulch depth of 2 inches:

Area in square feet	Mulch in cubic feet / No. of 2-cubic-foot bags	Mulch in cubic yards
50	8.34 cubic feet/5 bags	.31 cubic yards
500	83.35 cubic feet/42 bags	3 cubic yards
1000	166.7 cubic feet/84 bags	6.2 cubic yards
2000	333.4 cubic feet/167 bags	12.4 cubic yards

Common mistakes to avoid when calculating mulch

Calculating mulch isn’t always straightforward, and there are a few common errors you could make. 

Not considering existing mulch

Before you grab fresh mulch, look at what’s already in your yard. If it’s still in decent shape (not too compacted or broken down), you won’t have to clear everything out and start over. Simply add a 1 to 2-inch layer of new mulch on top to give your landscaping a clean, refreshed look.

When you crunch the numbers, you’ll need just over half the mulch you’d use for a new project.

Different types of mulch and compaction

Not all mulch types settle the same way over time. Shredded leaves and straw are light and airy, so they mat down quickly as they decompose. When this happens, you have to replenish the pile to keep it effective.

Wood chips and bark mulch are chunkier than shredded leaves, so they resist compaction better and last longer. Ultimately, with bigger pieces, you get less compaction and use less mulch. This cuts down on store visits, saving you time, money, and effort.

Read more about mulch:

• Benefits of Mulch
• How to Mulch

Get a local pro’s help

Mulching can keep your garden looking great, but if you’d rather skip the DIY, there are other options. Whether you need advice or a helping hand, Lawn Love can connect you with a local gardening expert to help you get it just right. Plus, they can mow, aerate, overseed, and fertilize your lawn to perfection.

Main Photo Credit: tab62 | Adobe Stock Free | License, overlay using Canva Pro