Mulch calculator for West Virginia
Calculate bags or yards for all your landscape beds, with depth recommendations for healthy plants.
Enter your project dimensions
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard of mulch, the same volume as exactly 13.5 garden-center bags holding 2 cubic feet each. That conversion is the main purpose of this page. Put in the bed dimensions and chosen depth below to see the bulk cubic-yard amount and its bag equivalent, giving you a direct comparison for a store trip. Shredded hardwood weighs around 600 lb per yard, but mulch is sold by volume, not weight, and bulk delivery follows that volume.
Figure mulch for your beds
- For each bed, take the measurements in feet, then total the areas. On a round bed, measure across its diameter and select circle mode for the area.
- For an existing mulch layer, select 2 inches; use 3 inches on a new or bare bed. Roots can be deprived of air above 4 inches.
- The result shows the bulk total in cubic yards and the store equivalent, calculated at 13.5 bags for each yard.
Bags (2 cu ft) = cubic yards × 13.5
Mulch coverage chart
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 10 bags (2 cu ft) cover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
Common order amounts
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Cubic yards | ≈ Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation beds along the house | 40 x 3 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 15 bags |
| Four tree rings | 4 ft across each | 3" | 0.5 yd³ | 6 bags |
| All beds, average yard | ≈ 500 sq ft | 3" | 4.6 yd³ | 63 bags |
| Annual refresh of the same beds | ≈ 500 sq ft | 1.5" | 2.3 yd³ | 31 bags |
| Playground surface | 15 x 15 ft | 6" | 4.2 yd³ | 56 bags |
Bulk versus bags: cost comparison
Ten bags marks the usual break point. Bags are handy below that amount. Once you are above it, bulk is typically less expensive in most places, and free delivery means there is no truck-rental issue. Hauling 15 bags home can make the comparison clear. Have one yard dropped, cover any remaining mulch with a tarp, and finish the job.
Plant-safe mulch depths
- After raking last year's mulch loose, apply 2 inches over it.
- Start bare soil with 3 inches. That depth helps stop weed seeds from sprouting while retaining moisture through July.
- Keep mulch back 3-6 inches from the trunk when working around trees. Bark can rot when mulch is piled against it, and rodents can shelter there. Make a low, flat donut rather than a volcano.
- Keep mulch no deeper than 4 inches. When a deep layer remains wet, roots lose access to air.
- For play areas, install playground-certified chip at a minimum depth of 6 inches instead of landscape shred.
Pick the mulch type
This calculator starts with shredded hardwood, which binds together and is less likely to move on light slopes. Chips and nuggets can last a season or two longer, though a downpour may float and scatter them. Dyed mulch keeps its color but breaks down more slowly. Quantity is calculated the same way for every mulch type, so only appearance and refresh timing change, not the volume ordered.
On delivery day
A three-yard mulch load forms a pile about as large as a small car. Make room in the driveway equal to a parking spot, and have the load placed on a tarp because shredded mulch can mark fresh concrete. Get it spread in a week or two. Left for a month, the center of a large pile can heat up and sour. Allow 30-45 minutes of wheelbarrow time for every yard, and hold back the final half-yard for the overlooked beds behind the garage.
Common mulch calculation questions
How many mulch bags equal a cubic yard?
How many cubic feet make up a yard of mulch?
How much mulch is needed?
What area can one yard of mulch cover?
What is the weight of a yard of mulch?
What does a yard of mulch cost?
Will mulch attract termites?
Can new mulch go over old mulch?
Other calculators
Avoid the 27-bag cart.
Order bulk shredded hardwood by the yard for driveway placement, with free delivery.
