How much mulch you need
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × 0.25.
Example: a 10 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep is 25.0 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards. At 0.25 tons per cubic yard that is 0.23 tons, or 50 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
University of Kentucky Extension says 3 inches of mulch is all you need, and no deeper.
How far one yard and one ton go
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 1,281 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 640 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 427 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 320 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 213 sq ft |
Ton figures use 0.25 tons per cubic yard.
Weight and price
The Calculator Site, citing Engineering ToolBox and simetric.co.uk, lists bark mulch at 18.7 lb and wood-chip mulch at 25.0 lb per cubic foot, or 0.25 to 0.34 tons per cubic yard. Published figures run from 0.25 to 0.34 tons per cubic yard.
HomeAdvisor puts mulch at $50 to $150 per cubic yard. The price box above starts at the middle of that range; type in your supplier's quote for a real number.
Common questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of mulch?
About 0.25 tons. The Calculator Site, citing Engineering ToolBox and simetric.co.uk, lists bark mulch at 18.7 lb and wood-chip mulch at 25.0 lb per cubic foot, or 0.25 to 0.34 tons per cubic yard.
How much area does a ton of mulch cover?
About 640 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 427 sq ft at 3 inches.
How much does mulch cost?
HomeAdvisor puts mulch at $50 to $150 per cubic yard. Delivery is often extra.
Sources
- https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/articles/units/how-much-cubic-yard-weigh.php
- https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/landscape/deliver-soil-mulch-or-rocks
- https://publications.ca.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ho106.pdf