Coverage by depth
Area (sq ft) = cubic feet ÷ (depth in inches ÷ 12). One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
| Depth | 1 ton covers (sq ft) | 1 cu yd covers (sq ft) | 1 ton covers (m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1,281 | 324 | 119.0 |
| 2 in | 640 | 162 | 59.5 |
| 3 in | 427 | 108 | 39.7 |
| 4 in | 320 | 81 | 29.7 |
| 6 in | 213 | 54 | 19.8 |
| 8 in | 160 | 40 | 14.9 |
| 12 in | 107 | 27 | 9.9 |
Ton figures use 0.25 tons per cubic yard of mulch.
Plan for settling
University of Kentucky Extension says 3 inches of mulch is all you need, and no deeper. Loose material settles once it is walked on or compacted, so order a little more than the bare volume. Rochester Concrete Products' install guide adds 10% for compaction and uneven ground.
Common questions
How much does a ton of mulch cover at 2 inches?
About 640 sq ft.
How much does a yard of mulch cover at 3 inches?
About 108 sq ft. One cubic yard covers 108 sq ft at 3 inches whatever the material.
How deep should mulch be?
University of Kentucky Extension says 3 inches of mulch is all you need, and no deeper.
Sources
- https://www.thecalculatorsite.com/articles/units/how-much-cubic-yard-weigh.php
- https://publications.ca.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ho106.pdf
- https://rochestercp.com/resources/installation-manuals/installation-manual-vintage-6.pdf