Mulch & Soil Calculator
Free mulch, soil, and gravel calculator — cubic yards or metres and bags needed for any bed area and depth.
Everyday Uses
Garden beds
Find the cubic yards or metres of mulch for any bed and depth.
Gravel & soil
Works for topsoil, compost, sand, and gravel too.
Bags vs bulk
Compare bagged quantities against ordering in bulk.
Right depth
Dial in a 2–3 inch layer that suppresses weeds without smothering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed area by the depth of the layer. In US units, area (ft²) × depth (inches) ÷ 12 gives cubic feet, and ÷ 27 gives cubic yards. A 20 × 10 ft bed with 3 inches of mulch needs 200 × 0.25 = 50 ft³ ≈ 1.85 cubic yards. In metric, area (m²) × depth (m) gives cubic metres.
How deep should mulch be?
A layer of 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) is ideal for most mulch — enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture without smothering roots. For gravel paths or driveways you may go deeper. Keep mulch a few centimetres clear of plant stems and tree trunks.
How many bags of mulch is a cubic yard?
Bagged mulch is usually sold in 2 ft³ bags, so one cubic yard (27 ft³) is about 13–14 bags. Divide the cubic feet you need by your bag size to get the count. Buying in bulk by the cubic yard is cheaper for large beds.