Mulch calculator for Mississippi
Get yardage or bag amounts for each garden bed, along with depth tips to support healthy plants.
Enter your project dimensions
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard of mulch, the same volume as exactly 13.5 garden-center bags holding 2-cubic-feet each. That conversion is the reason this page is here. Add your bed dimensions and selected depth below to see the bulk-order cubic yards along with the matching bag count, making a store trip easier to compare. Shredded hardwood is light at around 600 lb per yard, so mulch is sold by volume, and bulk delivery concerns volume rather than weight.
Figure mulch for your beds
- In feet, measure every bed and total the measurements. For a circular bed, measure its diameter, then use circle mode for the area.
- For an existing layer, select 2 inches; choose 3 inches on fresh or bare beds. Roots can begin losing air beyond 4 inches.
- Your answer appears in cubic yards for a bulk order and in bags for store comparison, calculated at 13.5 bags per yard.
Bags (2 cu ft) = cubic yards × 13.5
Coverage guide
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 10 bags (2 cu ft) cover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
Common order amounts
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Cubic yards | ≈ Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation beds along the house | 40 x 3 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 15 bags |
| Four tree rings | 4 ft across each | 3" | 0.5 yd³ | 6 bags |
| All beds, average yard | ≈ 500 sq ft | 3" | 4.6 yd³ | 63 bags |
| Annual refresh of the same beds | ≈ 500 sq ft | 1.5" | 2.3 yd³ | 31 bags |
| Playground surface | 15 x 15 ft | 6" | 4.2 yd³ | 56 bags |
Bulk versus bags: cost comparison
Ten bags marks the usual break point. Bags work well below that amount; above it, bulk is less expensive in nearly every case, and free delivery takes truck rental out of the equation. Each spring, people who brought home 15 bags the prior weekend often realize the difference while standing in the parking lot. Have one yard dropped off, cover remaining material with a tarp, and finish up.
Mulch depths for plant care
- After raking last year's mulch loose, add 2 inches over it.
- Apply 3 inches over bare ground to help stop weed germination and keep soil moisture in through July.
- Keep mulch in a flat donut shape, not a volcano, around trees. Leave 3-6 inches bare around the trunk, since mulch against bark can cause rot and give rodents cover.
- Do not exceed 4 inches in any area. Mulch that is both deep and wet can deprive roots of air.
- Use playground-certified chips, not landscape shred, for play areas, with surfacing kept at least 6 inches deep.
Selecting mulch type
The calculator begins with shredded hardwood, which interlocks and tends to hold on light slopes. Chips and nuggets may remain longer by a season or two, but downpours can make them float away or spread around. Dyed mulch keeps its color while breaking down more slowly. Every type uses identical volume math, so the amount ordered stays unchanged; the appearance and refresh timing are what vary.
On delivery day
A three-yard load makes a mound roughly the size of a small car. Set aside a parking-space area on the driveway, put down a tarp before unloading, and remember that shredded mulch can stain new concrete. Get it spread during the following week or two, since a large pile sitting for a month can heat up and turn sour in the center. Plan on 30-45 minutes of wheelbarrow work for each yard, and save the final half-yard for those easy-to-miss beds behind the garage.
Common mulch calculation questions
How many mulch bags make a cubic yard?
How many cubic feet does a yard of mulch contain?
How much mulch is required?
What area will a yard of mulch cover?
What does one yard of mulch weigh?
What is the price of a yard of mulch?
Will mulch bring in termites?
Can new mulch be added over old mulch?
Other calculators
Leave the 27-bag cart behind.
Shredded hardwood mulch sold by the yard for driveway tipping, with free delivery.
