Mulch calculator for Maine
Plan every landscape bed with yard or bag totals and mulch-depth advice for healthy plants.
Enter your project dimensions
Each cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet, equal to exactly 13.5 garden-center bags holding 2-cubic-foot each. That conversion drives this calculator. Put in your bed dimensions and selected depth to see the cubic yards needed for bulk purchase and the matching bag total before heading to the store. Shredded hardwood weighs around 600 lb per yard, making volume, not weight, the basis for sales and bulk delivery.
Plan mulch for your beds
- In feet, measure every bed, then combine the totals. For a circular bed, measure its diameter and select circle mode for area.
- Use 2 inches to renew existing mulch and 3 inches for a new bed or exposed soil. At more than 4 inches, roots can lose needed air.
- Use the result for bulk cubic yards or compare it with store bags, calculated at 13.5 bags per yard.
Bags (2 cu ft) = cubic yards × 13.5
Mulch coverage chart
| 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 sizes
| 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 and bags: comparing costs
Ten bags marks the usual changeover. Bags work well below that amount. For larger amounts, bulk generally costs less, and free delivery means no truck rental is needed. If you need 15 bags, a delivered yard can simplify the job. Cover any remaining mulch with a tarp.
Mulch depths for plant health
- Apply 2 inches over last year's mulch after raking the old layer loose.
- Apply 3 inches over exposed soil. This depth suppresses weed sprouting and helps soil stay moist through July.
- Leave an open ring 3 to 6 inches wide around each trunk. Mulch touching bark can lead to rot and provide cover for rodents. Keep the layer flat like a donut, not piled high.
- Keep all mulch layers at 4 inches or less. Roots can lose access to air beneath deep mulch that remains wet.
- Use playground-certified chips for play areas instead of landscape shred. Maintain a minimum depth of 6 inches.
Pick a mulch type
The calculator begins with shredded hardwood because its pieces bind together and hold on mild slopes. Chips and nuggets may last a season or two longer, yet a hard rain can float and spread them. Dyed mulch breaks down more slowly while retaining its color. Every type follows identical volume math, so the amount to order stays the same; appearance and refresh timing are the differences.
Prepare for delivery
A three-yard mulch delivery makes a pile roughly the size of a small car. Open up a parking-space-sized section of driveway and place a tarp for the load, since shredded mulch can stain new concrete. Get it spread in a week or two. Left for a month, a large pile can heat internally and turn sour. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes of wheelbarrow work for each yard, saving the final half-yard for the often-missed beds behind the garage.
Common mulch math questions
How many mulch bags equal a cubic yard?
How many cubic feet does a mulch yard contain?
How much mulch is needed?
What area can one yard of mulch cover?
What does a yard of mulch weigh?
What is the price for a yard of mulch?
Will mulch draw termites?
Can new mulch go over existing mulch?
More calculators
Avoid filling a 27-bag cart.
Order shredded hardwood mulch by the yard for driveway delivery, with delivery free.
