Mulch & Soil Calculator
Find how much mulch, topsoil, or compost a garden bed needs. Enter the area and the depth you want to spread.
3D bed · drag to rotate
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Check it outHow deep to spread
Mulch works best at 2–3 inches to suppress weeds and hold moisture. New garden soil is often 4–6 inches. Bagged material usually comes in 2 cu ft bags, but bulk delivery by the cubic yard is cheaper once you pass roughly nine bags.
How it’s calculated
Cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Bags = cubic feet ÷ 2 (2 cu ft bags).
Results update as you type and are estimates, not professional advice — verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Worked example
A 20x4 bed at 3 inches deep needs ~0.74 cubic yards, about 10 two-cubic-foot bags.
Common mistakes
- Spreading mulch too deep, which wastes material and harms plants.
- Buying bags when bulk delivery is cheaper past ~9 bags.
Where it is used
- Ordering mulch, topsoil, or compost for a garden bed.
- Comparing bagged versus bulk pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should mulch be?
2–3 inches is the sweet spot. Deeper can suffocate roots; shallower lets weeds through.
Bags or bulk?
One cubic yard equals about 13–14 bags of 2 cu ft. Bulk delivery usually wins on price for larger beds.
Does material type change the amount?
Volume is the same; weight differs. Gravel and wet soil are much heavier than mulch, which matters for delivery.
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