Not sure of your bed size?
Walk it off — an average adult stride is about 2.5 feet. Ten paces is roughly 25 feet. Close enough for mulch.
Odd-shaped beds?
Break the bed into rectangles and circles and add each one as its own area. The calculator adds them together.
Prefer paper?
Download our mulch measuring chart (PDF) — the same chart we have always handed out.
Quick reference
Coverage per cubic yard
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Here is how far that goes at common depths.
| Depth | Coverage per yard | Yards per 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 1.5 yards |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 3.1 yards |
| 3 inches Most common for landscape beds | 108 sq ft | 4.6 yards |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 6.2 yards |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 9.3 yards |
Mulch comparison in yards
What a pile of mulch actually looks like
We often get asked how much mulch to order, so we photographed the common quantities. Next to each pile is a standard six cubic foot wheelbarrow for scale — you can fill that wheelbarrow about four and a half times to move one yard of mulch.
1Cubic yard
Covers about 108 sq ft at 3″. Roughly 4.5 wheelbarrow loads.
2Cubic yards
Covers about 216 sq ft at 3″. Roughly 9 wheelbarrow loads.
4Cubic yards
Covers about 432 sq ft at 3″. Roughly 18 wheelbarrow loads.
6Cubic yards
Covers about 648 sq ft at 3″. Roughly 27 wheelbarrow loads.
8Cubic yards
Covers about 864 sq ft at 3″. Roughly 36 wheelbarrow loads.
How we load it
Our loader buckets, side by side
On the left is our two yard bucket, on the right our one yard bucket, with their respective mulch piles in front of them. This is how we fill our trucks and how we load pick-ups at the yard.
If you are bringing a truck or trailer, this is a useful gauge for what will fit. Give us a call if you are unsure what your vehicle can safely carry.
Common questions
Mulch, measured
How many square feet does a yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at a 3 inch depth. At 2 inches it stretches to 162 square feet; at 4 inches it only covers 81. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How deep should I put the mulch down?
Three inches is the standard for landscape beds — deep enough to hold moisture and suppress weeds without smothering roots. Two inches is fine when you are topping up existing mulch, and four inches is used where weed pressure is heavy. Keep mulch pulled back a few inches from tree trunks and plant stems.
How many wheelbarrow loads is a yard?
About four and a half. A standard wheelbarrow holds 6 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That is the same wheelbarrow you see in the comparison photos above.
How many bags equal a yard of mulch?
Our bags hold 2 cubic feet, so roughly 14 bags per cubic yard. For anything beyond a small bed, buying bulk by the yard costs considerably less. Bags are pick up only — see the bag price list.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes — there is a one cubic yard minimum on all bulk products. Below that, grab bags from the 24 hour pick-up area.
Can you deliver two different products at once?
Yes. Our split load trucks have dividers, so we can bring two products in one delivery to the same driveway for an extra $15. See the full delivery charges.
Will color enhanced mulch stain my driveway?
It can. Put a tarp down where we will be dumping, and let the mulch dry for about 12 hours after installation so the color sets rather than washing off. This applies to our color enhanced black and brown mulches.
What about the white fuzzy stuff I sometimes see in mulch?
That is mulch mold — a normal, naturally occurring process that shows up occasionally in a small spot or two. We have more about mulch mold on our About page, including a video and literature.
Got your number? Let’s get it delivered.
Call the yard with your yardage, or send us the details and Scott will get back to you with a firm price.