Mulch Square Foot
Calculator — Coverage Estimator

A standard 2 cubic foot bag of mulch covers about 12 square feet at 2 inches deep, or 8 square feet at 3 inches deep. For 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, you need about 13 bags.

Measure the length and width of the bed in feet, multiply to get square footage, then multiply by the desired depth in feet. A 10×20 bed at 3 inches (0.25 ft) deep needs 200 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 50 cubic feet of mulch, or about 1.85 cubic yards.

Apply mulch 2 to 4 inches deep for most landscaping beds. Use 2 inches for fine mulch and flower beds, 3 inches for general landscaping, and 4 inches for paths and play areas. Do not exceed 4 inches.

Calculate square footage, multiply by depth in feet, then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. For 500 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 500 × 0.25 = 125 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 4.63 cubic yards.

Mulch costs $0.05 to $0.15 per square foot at 2-3 inches deep for bagged mulch. Bulk mulch delivered costs $15 to $65 per cubic yard. A cubic yard covers about 160 sq ft at 2 inches deep.

Replace organic mulch annually or add 1-2 inches of fresh mulch each year. Bark mulch lasts 1-2 years, wood chips last 2-3 years, and rubber mulch lasts 10+ years. Replenish when the depth falls below 2 inches.