Mulch calculator for Delaware
Get yard or bag estimates for all your landscape beds, with depth advice to help plants thrive.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. That equals exactly 13.5 bags sized 2-cubic-foot at the garden center. This conversion is the main reason for this calculator. Add your bed measurements and chosen depth below to see the bulk cubic-yard amount and its bag equivalent for comparison before a store trip. Shredded hardwood is light at around 600 lb per yard, which is why it is sold by volume. Bulk delivery is based on volume, not weight.
Plan mulch for your beds
- Add together the measurements for all beds in feet. If a bed is round, measure its diameter, then use circle mode to calculate the area.
- For an old mulch layer, select 2 inches for a touch-up. Use 3 inches on new or exposed beds. Roots can begin to lose air beyond 4 inches.
- Your answer shows cubic yards for a bulk purchase and bags at 13.5 per yard for a store comparison.
Bags (2 cu ft) = cubic yards × 13.5
Coverage by depth
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 10 bags (2 cu ft) cover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
Common order sizes
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Cubic yards | ≈ Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation beds along the house | 40 x 3 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 15 bags |
| Four tree rings | 4 ft across each | 3" | 0.5 yd³ | 6 bags |
| All beds, average yard | ≈ 500 sq ft | 3" | 4.6 yd³ | 63 bags |
| Annual refresh of the same beds | ≈ 500 sq ft | 1.5" | 2.3 yd³ | 31 bags |
| Playground surface | 15 x 15 ft | 6" | 4.2 yd³ | 56 bags |
Bulk compared with bags: cost considerations
Use 10 bags as the comparison point. Bags work well for smaller amounts. Once your job needs more, bulk is less expensive in most areas, and free delivery means a truck rental is not needed. If you already brought home 15 bags, order a yard for delivery and keep any remaining material under a tarp.
Plant-safe mulch depths
- After loosening last year's mulch with a rake, add 2 inches over it.
- Use 3 inches over bare soil. That depth helps prevent weed seeds from sprouting while holding moisture through July.
- Leave a bare 3-6 inches around each tree trunk. Bark can rot when mulch is pressed against it, and rodents may move in. Keep the mulch shaped like a flat donut, not a volcano.
- Do not use more than 4 inches anywhere. A deep, wet layer can keep air from reaching roots.
- For play spaces, install playground-certified chip at a depth of 6 inches minimum instead of landscape shred.
Pick your mulch type
This calculator starts with shredded hardwood. It interlocks and is less likely to move on gentle slopes. Chips and nuggets can last a season or two longer, though heavy rain can make them float and spread around. Dyed mulch retains its color while taking longer to break down. Each type uses the identical volume calculation, so your order amount stays the same. The difference is appearance and how often you refresh it.
On delivery day
Three yards of mulch makes a pile about as large as a small car. Clear a parking spot-sized section of driveway, place a tarp down, and have the load tipped there because shredded mulch can stain fresh concrete. Spread it during the first or second week. If a large pile sits for a month, it can heat internally and turn sour. Plan on 30-45 minutes of wheelbarrow work for each yard, then save the final half-yard for the beds behind the garage that are easy to miss.
Common mulch calculation questions
How many mulch bags make a cubic yard?
How many cubic feet does one yard of mulch hold?
How much mulch is needed?
What area can a yard of mulch cover?
What does one yard of mulch weigh?
What is the price of a yard of mulch?
Will mulch draw termites?
Can new mulch be added over old mulch?
Other calculators
Avoid filling a 27-bag cart.
Order bulk shredded hardwood by the yard for driveway delivery, free of charge.
