Mulch Calculator Cubic Feet
Enter bed dimensions to get cubic feet instantly. This mulch sq ft calculator converts square footage and depth to cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag count for all bag sizes.
Cubic Feet Mulch Calculator
Get cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag count in one calculation
Bag size is printed on the label per Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) standards. Most retail bags are 2 cu ft.
How Cubic Feet Are Calculated
Cubic feet for mulch is the product of bed length, width, and depth - all converted to feet. Depth in inches divides by 12 to convert to feet. The result is the volume in cubic feet the mulch fills.
How to Figure Cubic Feet for Mulch - Step by Step
A 10 ft x 15 ft garden bed = 150 square feet of surface area.
3 inches is the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) standard for landscape beds. Use 2 inches for flower beds, 4 inches for weed suppression.
150 sq ft x (3 / 12) = 150 x 0.25 = 37.5 cubic feet.
37.5 x 1.10 = 41.25 cubic feet. Always round up when ordering bags.
41.25 / 27 = 1.53 cubic yards. Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard at landscape suppliers.
Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards (div 27)
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Divide any cubic feet value by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Bulk mulch suppliers sell by the cubic yard. Retail bags label volume in cubic feet per the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) bag labeling standard.
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards | 2 cu ft Bags | 3 cu ft Bags | Est. Weight (bark) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.5 cu ft | 0.5 yd³ | 7 bags | 5 bags | 200-300 lbs |
| 27 cu ft | 1 yd³ | 14 bags | 9 bags | 400-600 lbs |
| 40.5 cu ft | 1.5 yd³ | 21 bags | 14 bags | 600-900 lbs |
| 54 cu ft | 2 yd³ | 27 bags | 18 bags | 800-1,200 lbs |
| 81 cu ft | 3 yd³ | 41 bags | 27 bags | 1,200-1,800 lbs |
| 108 cu ft | 4 yd³ | 54 bags | 36 bags | 1,600-2,400 lbs |
| 135 cu ft | 5 yd³ | 68 bags | 45 bags | 2,000-3,000 lbs |
| 162 cu ft | 6 yd³ | 81 bags | 54 bags | 2,400-3,600 lbs |
| 189 cu ft | 7 yd³ | 95 bags | 63 bags | 2,800-4,200 lbs |
| 270 cu ft | 10 yd³ | 135 bags | 90 bags | 4,000-6,000 lbs |
Weight based on shredded hardwood/bark mulch at 400-600 lbs per cubic yard dry. Rubber mulch weighs 800-1,200 lbs per cubic yard. Rock weighs 2,400-3,000 lbs per cubic yard.
Quick Cubic Feet to Yards Converter
Enter cubic feet or cubic yards - the other fields update automatically.
Bag-Size Equivalents (.75 / 1.5 / 2 / 3 cu ft)
Retail mulch bags come in five sizes. The Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) requires the cubic foot volume to be printed on every bag label. The 2 cubic foot bag is the most common size at major home-improvement retailers. The 3 cubic foot bag is common at landscape suppliers.
Coverage per Bag at Different Depths
| Bag Size | Bags per Cu Yd | Coverage at 1" | Coverage at 2" | Coverage at 3" | Coverage at 4" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 bags | 9 sq ft | 4.5 sq ft | 3 sq ft | 2.25 sq ft |
| 1 cu ft | 27 bags | 12 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 4 sq ft | 3 sq ft |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 bags | 18 sq ft | 9 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 4.5 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft(most common) | 14 bags | 24 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 8 sq ft | 6 sq ft |
| 3 cu ft | 9 bags | 36 sq ft | 18 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 9 sq ft |
Coverage = Bag volume (cu ft) x 12 / Depth (in). The 3-inch column is the NALP standard depth for most landscape beds.
Coverage at Different Depths
Coverage decreases as depth increases. One cubic foot covers 12 sq ft at 1 inch deep and 4 sq ft at 3 inches deep. Depth is the single biggest variable in cubic feet calculations - doubling the depth halves the coverage area.
Coverage per 1 Cubic Foot at Each Depth
Cubic Feet Needed by Bed Size and Depth
| Bed Size (sq ft) | At 1" Deep | At 2" Deep | At 3" Deep | At 4" Deep | At 6" Deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 4.2 cu ft | 8.3 cu ft | 12.5 cu ft | 16.7 cu ft | 25 cu ft |
| 100 sq ft | 8.3 cu ft | 16.7 cu ft | 25 cu ft | 33.3 cu ft | 50 cu ft |
| 200 sq ft | 16.7 cu ft | 33.3 cu ft | 50 cu ft | 66.7 cu ft | 100 cu ft |
| 300 sq ft | 25 cu ft | 50 cu ft | 75 cu ft | 100 cu ft | 150 cu ft |
| 500 sq ft | 41.7 cu ft | 83.3 cu ft | 125 cu ft | 166.7 cu ft | 250 cu ft |
| 750 sq ft | 62.5 cu ft | 125 cu ft | 187.5 cu ft | 250 cu ft | 375 cu ft |
| 1000 sq ft | 83.3 cu ft | 166.7 cu ft | 250 cu ft | 333.3 cu ft | 500 cu ft |
Values rounded to 1 decimal. Add 10% to all values for waste and settling. Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards for bulk ordering.
Standard Depth by Application
FAQ
One cubic yard of mulch equals exactly 27 cubic feet. This is the fixed conversion used by all landscape suppliers. One cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, or 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep.
Multiply bed length (ft) by width (ft) by depth (in), then divide by 12. A 10 x 20 ft bed at 3 inches needs 10 x 20 x 3 / 12 = 50 cubic feet. Add 10% for waste: order 55 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to order bulk: 2.04 cubic yards.
100 sq ft at 2 inches needs 16.7 cubic feet. At 3 inches: 25 cubic feet. At 4 inches: 33.3 cubic feet. Add 10% for settling. Use the calculator above for any bed size and depth combination.
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. At 2 cu ft per bag: 27 / 2 = 13.5 bags. Always buy 14 bags per cubic yard. At 3 cu ft per bag, one yard needs exactly 9 bags. At 1.5 cu ft bags, one yard needs 18 bags.
A standard 5.5-foot truck bed (F-150, Ram 1500) holds approximately 52 cubic feet of mulch by volume. That equals 1.9 cubic yards. A 6.5-foot bed holds approximately 62 cubic feet. Never exceed the truck payload rating - bark mulch weighs 400-600 lbs per cubic yard.
No. Square feet is a 2-dimensional area measurement. Cubic feet is a 3-dimensional volume measurement. Mulch volume in cubic feet equals square feet multiplied by depth in feet. A 100 sq ft bed at 3 inches (0.25 ft) uses 100 x 0.25 = 25 cubic feet.
Divide the irregular bed into rectangular sections. Calculate cubic feet for each section separately using L x W x D / 12. Add all section totals together. Add 10% for edges, overlaps, and settling. Use the cubic yards calculator for circular and triangular sections.
Multiply your bed area in square feet by depth in inches, then divide by 12. A 200 sq ft bed at 3 inches needs 200 x 3 / 12 = 50 cu ft. At 2 inches: 33.3 cu ft. At 4 inches: 66.7 cu ft. Add 10% for waste before ordering.
A yard of mulch means one cubic yard, which equals 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, or 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep. Landscape suppliers sell by the cubic yard. Retail bags label volume in cubic feet per MSC standard.
Browse every calculator on the site — pick any tool below.