Exterior

Mulch Calculator: Cubic Yards, Bags and Tons

Cubic yards, bag count and delivered weight for mulch, topsoil, compost, gravel or sand at any depth.

Your measurements

Bark mulch needed

1.11cu yd

120 sq ft at 3 in deep

Area
120 sq ft
Volume
30.0 cu ft
2 cu ft bags
15
Delivered weight0.5 tons per cu yd
0.56 tons
Bulk deliveredPlus a typical $60–$120 delivery fee
$33 – $67
By the bag15 bags
$53 – $90
  • Under about 2 cubic yards, bags usually win once you count the delivery fee.
  • Keep mulch 2–3 in clear of trunks and stems. Piling it against bark holds moisture there and rots the plant you are trying to protect.
  • Landscape supply yards sell by weight as often as by volume. The tons figure above is what to quote when they ask.

How this is calculated

  • Volume is area × depth, converted to cubic yards at 27 cubic feet per yard.
  • Bags are the standard 2 cubic foot size sold at big-box stores — always rounded up.
  • Weight uses typical yard densities: bark mulch about 0.5 tons per cubic yard, topsoil 1.1, compost 0.8, gravel 1.4, sand 1.35. Wet material weighs considerably more.
  • Bulk pricing is per delivered cubic yard before the delivery fee, which is usually charged per trip regardless of quantity.

Quantities are rounded up, because materials are sold in whole units and a second trip costs more than a spare box. Cost figures are typical US ranges and are not a quote — always price against your own supplier.

Frequently asked questions

How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?

13.5 bags of the standard 2 cubic foot size. So a yard of mulch is 14 bags in practice — which is why anything over about two yards is worth having delivered in bulk.

How deep should mulch be?

2–3 inches. Deeper does not suppress more weeds; it starves roots of oxygen and holds water against stems. Refresh annually to keep the depth rather than adding a full layer on top of the old one.

How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?

For a new lawn, 4–6 inches of topsoil — about 1 cubic yard per 60 sq ft at 6 in. For topdressing an existing lawn, a quarter to half an inch, which is roughly 1 cubic yard per 800 sq ft.

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