Mulch Calculator

Figure out how much mulch or other landscaping material you need. Choose the shape of your mulch bed then enter dimensions. You can use feet, inches, meters or centimeters.

Select the shape that matches your garden bed
ft
Measure the longest side of your bed
ft
Measure the shorter side of your bed
in
Recommended: 2-4 inches for most applications
Choose your preferred measurement system

Cost Calculation (Optional)

Choose how you're purchasing mulch
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About Mulch and Application Guidelines

What is Mulch and Why Use It?

Mulch is a protective layer of material spread on top of soil, usually around plants. It can be made of wood chips, shredded leaves, straw, grass clippings, stones or rubber. Using the right mulch can help your yard, landscape project or garden, depending on the type of mulch you choose.

Recommended Mulch Depth by Area

Area Depth Notes
Flower/shrub beds 2–3 in Keep mulch a few inches from stems
Vegetable beds 2–3 in Use clean, weed-free mulch
Around trees 2–3 in Form a wide ring; keep 3-6 in away from trunk
Paths 3–4 in Use chunky mulch so it stays put
Slopes 3–4 in Choose fibrous/chunky mulch to resist wash-off
Containers 1–2 in Mulch helps soil hold water and stop splashes

Mulch Volume Formulas and Area Calculations

cubic-yards-square

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a square

Using measurements in feet:

  • Area ft2 = 2 × Side Length
  • Volume ft3 = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards yd3 = Volume ft3 Ã· 27
cubic-yards-rectangle

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a rectangle

Using measurements in feet:

  • Area ft2 = Length × Width
  • Volume ft3 = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards yd3 = Volume ft3 Ã· 27
cubic-yards-rectangle-border

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a rectangle border

Using measurements in feet:

  • Inner Area (ft2) = Length × Width
  • Total Area (ft2) = [ Length + (2 × Border Width) ] × [ Width + (2 × Border Width) ]
  • Area (ft2) = Total Area − Inner Area
  • Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27
cubic-yards-circle

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a circle

Using measurements in feet:

  • Area (ft2) = Pi × (Diameter ÷ 2)2
  • Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27
  • Pi = 3.14
cubic-yards-circle-border

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a circle border

Using measurements in feet:

  • Outer Diameter = Inner Diameter + (2 × Border Width)
  • Outer Area (ft2)
    = Pi × (Outer Diameter/2)2
  • Inner Area (ft2)
    = Pi × (Inner Diameter/2)2
  • Area (ft2) = Outer Area − Inner Area
  • Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27
  • Pi = 3.14

The Circle Border and Annulus below are the same shape, just measured differently.

cubic-yards-annulus

Calculate mulch volume using depth for an annulus

Using measurements in feet:

  • Outer Area (ft2)
    = Pi × (Outer Diameter ÷ 2)2
  • Inner Area (ft2)
    = Pi × (Inner Diameter ÷ 2)2
  • Area (ft2) = Outer Area − Inner Area
  • Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27
  • Pi = 3.14

The Circle Border and Annulus above are the same, just measured differently.

cubic-yards-triangle

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a triangle

Using measurements in feet:

Area (ft2) = 1/2 × Base × Height

Or, if you don’t have the height of the triangle, but you have the lengths of each triangle side (sides a, b and c), use the below formula for triangle area.

Area = √ { [ (a + b + c) ÷ 2) ] × [ (a + b + c) ÷ 2) − a ] × [ (a + b + c) ÷ 2) − b ] × [ (a + b + c) ÷ 2) − c ] }

Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area

Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27

cubic-yards-trapezoid

Calculate mulch volume using depth for a trapezoid

Using measurements in feet:

  • Area (ft2) = [(a + b) ÷ 2 ] × h
  • Volume (ft3) = Depth × Area
  • Volume in Cubic Yards (yd3) = Volume (ft3) ÷ 27