Cubic Yards to Tons

Buy for the layer you actually need

Mulch calculator

Find the bags or bulk cubic yards needed for your bed. If mulch is already there, count that layer before buying more.

Rectangle: length × width in feet. Exclude paving and areas you will leave bare.

Target minus existing = depth to add. Enter 0 for existing depth on a bare bed. Example depths are not a recommendation for every plant.

Use the bag’s volume, not its weight. The calculator rounds up to whole bags.

Compare your bag and bulk quotes

Assumes bulk is sold in the exact calculated volume. Taxes, minimum orders, loading increments and bag delivery are not included. No delivery charge is added when no mulch is needed.

Bulk mulch needed

1.235 yd³

Add 2 inches across 200 sq ft.

Or buy whole bags

17 bags

At 2 cu ft per bag · 0.667 cu ft left after filling the calculated volume.

Your quoted costs

Bags
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Bulk + delivery
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Enter your prices to compare whole bags with the exact bulk volume.

200 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 12 = 33.333 cu ft. Divide by 27 for 1.235 cubic yards, or by 2 for 16.667 bags before rounding up.

No settlement or waste allowance is assumed.

How much mulch do I need?

Measure the area you will cover, choose the total depth that fits the planting, and measure the mulch already in place. The calculator subtracts the existing layer so that a refresh does not accidentally become a full new layer on top of the old one.

Depth to add = target depth − existing depth, with a minimum of zero
Cubic feet = square feet × added depth in inches ÷ 12
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Whole bags = cubic feet ÷ bag volume, rounded up

Use depths measured on a comparable basis. Loose material may settle after spreading; this tool does not predict that change. If your supplier recommends an adjustment for its product, account for it explicitly instead of treating the result as a guaranteed finished volume.

Example: refreshing an existing bed

A 20-by-10-foot bed has an area of 200 square feet. Suppose it has an even 1-inch mulch layer and you want a total of 3 inches. You need to add 2 inches, not 3. That is 200 × 2 ÷ 12 = 33.333 cubic feet, or about 1.235 cubic yards.

With 2-cubic-foot bags, the mathematical quantity is 16.667 bags. Buy 17 whole bags to cover the calculated amount. Those bags contain 34 cubic feet, leaving about 0.667 cubic feet after placing the planned layer. That rounding surplus is separate from any waste or settlement allowance.

If some parts of the bed are bare and others already have several inches, calculate those areas separately. A single average depth can hide the difference between places that need mulch and places that already have enough.

How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?

One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Divide 27 by the volume on the bag label. A larger bag contains more volume, so comparing only the price per bag can be misleading.

Bag equivalents for exactly one cubic yard
Bag volumeExact bag equivalentWhole bags to buy
1 cu ft2727
1.5 cu ft1818
2 cu ft13.514
3 cu ft99

Fourteen 2-cubic-foot bags hold 28 cubic feet, slightly more than a yard. The fractional equivalent is useful for comparing unit prices; the whole-bag count is useful for shopping. UF/IFAS explains mulch purchasing by cubic-foot bags and bulk cubic yards, including the 27-cubic-foot conversion.

Compare bags and bulk using your actual quotes

The optional comparison multiplies the whole bag count by your bag price. It multiplies the exact cubic yards by the bulk price and adds the delivery charge you enter. Prices start blank because a store promotion, delivery distance or supplier minimum can change the decision.

For an illustrative one-yard project, 14 bags at $3 each cost $42. Bulk at $30 per yard plus $15 delivery costs $45. Those are invented comparison inputs, not current market prices. If a supplier sells only in half-yard increments, has a two-yard minimum or charges separate fees, obtain a quote for that actual order before choosing.

Check the old layer before adding more

The right depth depends on the material, plants and site. In its tree-mulching guidance, Penn State Extension notes that raking existing mulch may be enough to refresh it and warns against piling mulch against the trunk. Choose a suitable total depth, then use the calculator for the quantity needed to reach it. A result of zero means your entered depth already meets the target; it does not mean the existing mulch is in good condition.

Measure the surface you intend to mulch, leaving out trunk clearance, paths and other bare spaces. The calculator treats the area as a level layer with uniform depth. It does not determine drainage, plant suitability or whether old mulch should be removed.

What if the quote is by weight?

Bag counts do not tell you tons without a bulk density. Mulch composition, moisture and packing can change its weight for the same volume. Once you know the cubic yards and the supplier’s density, use the cubic yards to tons calculator for that conversion. For a stone layer, the gravel coverage calculator handles area, depth and material weight.

Method and corrections

This page uses geometric volume and whole-package rounding. Inputs and quotes stay in your browser and are not saved. Sources checked September 15, 2026. For a correction or a clearer explanation, email contact@cubicyardstotons.org.