Mulch & Topsoil Calculator
Find how many bags or cubic yards of mulch or topsoil you need for any garden bed — with cost and instant, no-sign-up results.
2–3 in is ideal for most beds.
Bagged mulch is usually 2 cu ft.
Leave at 0 to skip cost.
How Much Mulch and Topsoil Do You Need?
Mulch and topsoil are sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the bag at the garden center. To size a job, multiply the bed area in square feet by the depth in feet (inches divided by 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A standard bag holds about 2 cubic feet, so the calculator divides total volume by your bag size and rounds up to whole bags.
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which works out to about 13.5 two-cubic-foot bagsper yard — handy when deciding between bagged and bulk delivery. For most beds, aim for 2–3 inches of depth: enough to block weeds and hold moisture without smothering plant roots. Enter a price per bag to see the total cost instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed area in square feet by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 200-square-foot bed at 2 inches deep needs about 33 cubic feet, or roughly 1.2 cubic yards.
How many bags of mulch in a yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 13.5 standard 2-cubic-foot bags to make a yard. For larger 3-cubic-foot bags you need roughly 9 bags per cubic yard.
How deep should mulch be?
Most gardens do best with 2–3 inches of mulch, which suppresses weeds and holds moisture without smothering roots. Refresh it back to that depth each year rather than continually piling more on top.
Turn Your Measurements Into a Real Floor Plan
Once you know your dimensions, generate a labeled, to-scale floor plan in seconds — then export it to DXF or build it in 3D. No CAD experience needed.
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