How Much Mulch Do I Need for a 10x10 Bed (and Other Sizes)?
A bed 10 ft by 10 ft at 3 in deep takes 0.93 yd³ of mulch, or 13 bags of 2 ft³, before any waste allowance.
Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.
Work it out for your own sizes
Size your own bedExample to try: Length 10 ft, Width 10 ft, Depth 3 in
Mulch for common bed sizes, by depth
Mulch for common bed sizes: cubic yards and bags at each depth, before any waste allowance
| Bed size | Cubic yards at 2 in | 2 ft³ bags at 2 in | Cubic yards at 3 in | 2 ft³ bags at 3 in | Cubic yards at 4 in | 2 ft³ bags at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft | 0.62 yd³ | 9 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.93 yd³ | 13 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.23 yd³ | 17 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 4 ft × 8 ft | 0.2 yd³ | 3 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.3 yd³ | 4 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.4 yd³ | 6 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 5 ft × 10 ft | 0.31 yd³ | 5 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.46 yd³ | 7 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.62 yd³ | 9 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 8 ft × 8 ft | 0.4 yd³ | 6 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.59 yd³ | 8 × 2 ft³ bags | 0.79 yd³ | 11 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 10 ft × 12 ft | 0.74 yd³ | 10 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.11 yd³ | 15 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.48 yd³ | 20 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 12 ft × 12 ft | 0.89 yd³ | 12 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.33 yd³ | 18 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.78 yd³ | 24 × 2 ft³ bags |
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 1.23 yd³ | 17 × 2 ft³ bags | 1.85 yd³ | 25 × 2 ft³ bags | 2.47 yd³ | 34 × 2 ft³ bags |
Estimate for planning, from what you entered and the product data shown. Check product labels and your supplier before you buy.
Each count is the bed area times the depth, with bags rounded up once to whole bags. The depths are the calculator's default and options, and the bag size is an input: check the size printed on your own bag.
What changes at other sizes
The amount follows the depth: the table gives each bed size at depths from 2 in to 4 in. The bed above is 25 ft³ of mulch at its depth.
What a number of bags cover
Area covered by a number of mulch bags at each depth
| Bags | Area covered at 2 in | Area covered at 3 in | Area covered at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 bags | 60 ft² | 40 ft² | 30 ft² |
| 10 bags | 120 ft² | 80 ft² | 60 ft² |
| 20 bags | 240 ft² | 160 ft² | 120 ft² |
| 50 bags | 600 ft² | 400 ft² | 300 ft² |
Each area is the volume of the bags divided by the depth. The bag size is an input, not a fact.
Questions
How much mulch do I need for a bed of another size?
Multiply the length by the width for the area, then by the depth for the volume. The first table lists common sizes at each depth, and the mulch calculator takes your own sizes.
How many bags cover a bed?
Divide the volume by the bag size and round up once to whole bags. The second table shows the area a number of bags cover at each depth.
Does the count include existing mulch or waste?
No. The counts are for a fresh layer of the stated depth with no waste allowance. The mulch calculator can subtract existing mulch and add a waste allowance.
Calculate it for your project
Enter your own sizes to get the amount to buy or the layout figures, with the working shown and a page to print.
Try your own bed in the mulch calculator