Mulch Cubic Yards Calculator

By Vinod Kondeti · Updated October 14, 2026

Landscape yards and delivery services sell mulch by the cubic yard. One yard (27 ft³) covers 108 ft² at 3 inches, 162 ft² at 2 inches and 81 ft² at 4 inches. This page shows your total and the coverage per yard together.

Length (ft)Width (ft)Depth (in)Extra for waste / settling (%)

Cost estimate (optional, enter your local prices)

Bulk price per yd³ ($)Delivery fee ($)

Cubic yards	–
Cubic feet	–
Cubic meters	–
Area 1 yd³ covers at this depth (ft²)	–
Estimated cost (incl. delivery)	–

Working: –

How do I measure for a cubic yards project?

Add up all your beds before ordering. Delivery minimums often make one order cheaper than two.
Suppliers may sell in half or whole yards, so round up.
Spread a delivered pile soon, or cover it.

How is the cubic yards amount calculated?

Cubic feet = length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12)
Cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27
Bags = ft³ ÷ bag size (ft³), rounded up
One bag covers (bag ft³ × 12) ÷ depth (in) square feet; 1 yd³ covers 324 ÷ depth (in) ft²
Extra for waste/settling: volume × (1 + % ÷ 100)
Round bed: π × (d ÷ 2)²; tree ring: π ÷ 4 × (outer² − inner²)
Bulk cost = yd³ × $/yd³ + delivery; bag cost = bags × $/bag

Cubic yards calculator questions

How many square feet does a yard of mulch cover?

324 ÷ depth in inches: 108 ft² at 3 in, 162 ft² at 2 in.

How many 2 cu ft bags equal one yard?

27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, so 14 bags.

Sources

Estimates only. Use the coverage or bag size printed on your product. Read the mulch guide for worked examples.