About This Tool
Mulch is one of the best investments in any garden โ it retains moisture, suppresses weeds, regulates soil temperature, and gives beds a finished look. But buying the wrong amount wastes money. Too little leaves bare patches where weeds break through. Too much can suffocate plant roots and trap excess moisture.
This calculator takes your bed dimensions, factors in the mulch type (each has a different weight and coverage), and tells you exactly how many cubic yards or bags to buy. Choose from bark mulch, wood chips, straw, rubber mulch, or cocoa shell โ each with accurate density values for weight estimates.
Most garden beds need 2โ3 inches of mulch. Tree rings need 3โ4 inches. Playground surfaces need 6+ inches for safety. Enter your area, pick your depth, and get a precise order โ no more guessing at the garden center.
How to Use
1. Select a project type (flower bed, tree ring, pathway, etc.) for recommended depth
2. Choose your mulch type โ each has a different weight per volume
3. Toggle between Rectangle and Circle shapes
4. Toggle between Imperial (ft, in) and Metric (m, cm)
5. Enter dimensions: length and width (or diameter) and depth
6. Adjust waste factor if needed (default 10%)
7. See total volume, weight, and bag estimates
Formula
Rectangle: Volume = Length ร Width ร Depth
Circle: Volume = ฯ ร (Diameter / 2)ยฒ ร Depth
Weight = Volume ร Mulch Density
Bags = Volume รท Bag Size (2 cu ft standard)