Enter the area and choose the job. We’ll set a practical depth and tell you how much mulch to order.
Volume is area multiplied by depth. Weight is that volume multiplied by the material's density.
volume = area × depth
tons = volume (cu ft) × 30 lb/cu ft ÷ 2000
order = volume × 1.05Density used: 30 lb per cubic foot. Shredded hardwood mulch. Bulk mulch runs 400–1,200 lb per cubic yard depending on type and how wet it is; 30 lb/ft³ (810 lb/yd) is a mid-range dry figure. Actual delivered weight varies with moisture and stone size, so treat tonnage as an estimate and confirm with your supplier.
The recommended order adds 5% on top. Material settles, ground is never perfectly flat, and a second delivery costs far more than a little extra mulch.
Bag count assumes 2 cu ft bags, rounded up to whole bags.
About 14 bags at the common 2 cu ft size, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. At 3 cu ft per bag it is 9 bags. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper than bags past about 2 cubic yards.
2 to 3 in on established beds. A new bed with no existing mulch wants 4 in, or up to 6 in where weeds are bad. More than that starts blocking water and air from reaching roots.
324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, and 81 sq ft at 4 in. Those are the four numbers worth remembering, and the calculator above works out anything in between.
Anywhere from 400 to 1,200 lb depending on the type and how wet it is. Moisture is the biggest factor — mulch that has sat through a rainstorm can weigh nearly double its dry weight, which matters if you are hauling it in a pickup.
Bags win for small beds, awkward access, or when you cannot take delivery. Bulk wins on price past roughly 2 cubic yards, which is about 14 bags. Bulk also arrives without 14 plastic sacks to dispose of.
Once a year for most wood mulches, because they break down into the soil — which is a feature, not a fault. Measure what is still down and add only the difference to get back to 3 in, rather than piling a fresh 3 in on top every spring.
Mulch piled against bark holds moisture there, and constant damp rots the bark and invites disease and rodents. Keep a 3 to 6 in gap of bare soil around the trunk. The mulch ring should look like a doughnut, not a volcano.