TradesHow this works
Enter the bed area, the depth you want to spread, and the bag size on the product. The tool works out the loose volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, the bag count, and then the real question: bags or bulk. Bags are easy to haul and fine for a small job, but you pay a premium per yard for the convenience.
Bulk is delivered by the cubic yard and runs far cheaper per yard, but you pay a delivery fee and need a spot for the pile. The rough break-even is three cubic yards. Between two and three yards it is a toss-up that turns on the delivery fee and whether you can haul bags yourself.
Common questions
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed area by the spread depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 200 square foot bed at 3 inches is about 1.85 cubic yards. Order a little over, since beds are rarely a perfect rectangle and mulch settles.
How many bags are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That is about 13 and a half bags of the standard 2 cubic foot mulch, so round up to 14. Soil and compost bags are often 1.5 cubic feet, and bagged gravel is usually a small 0.5 cubic foot bag because it is heavy.
Is it cheaper to buy bags or bulk?
Bulk material sold by the cubic yard runs 2 to 3 times cheaper per yard than bags, but a bulk load carries a delivery fee. That fee is why bags stay competitive on small jobs. Once you pass about 3 cubic yards, bulk is clearly cheaper even after delivery.
How deep should I spread mulch?
Two to three inches is the usual range. Three inches holds moisture and blocks weeds longer, but going from two to three inches is 50 percent more material, so decide the depth before you order. Do not pile it against trunks or stems.
How is gravel sold?
Gravel is often sold by weight rather than volume, so a supplier may quote tons instead of yards. This tool works in volume. Ask your supplier for the yard to ton conversion for your specific stone, since it changes with the rock type and size.
Sources: 1 cubic yard = 27 cu ft = 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft; coverage per yard = 324 / depth (in) sq ft (The Calculator Site) · Typical depth: mulch and gravel 2-3 in (LawnStarter) · Bags run 2-3x the per-yard price of bulk; bulk wins above ~3 cubic yards after delivery (LawnStarter, LawnLove). Engine version 1.0.0. Risk tier 1.