{
  "slug": "mulch-calculator",
  "title": "Mulch Calculator",
  "heading": "Mulch & Topsoil Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch-calculator",
  "summary": "Cubic yards and bags of mulch for your beds.",
  "description": "Mulch is sold by the 2 cubic foot bag or by the cubic yard, and a yard is 13.5 bags. At three inches deep, one yard covers about 108 square feet.",
  "formula": "Cubic yards = Area × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=mulch-calculator",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "area",
      "label": "Bed area",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": "sq ft",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "depth",
      "label": "Depth",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": "in",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 12
    },
    {
      "id": "bagSize",
      "label": "Bag size",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": "cu ft",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 4
    },
    {
      "id": "bagCost",
      "label": "Cost per bag",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4.5,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "yardCost",
      "label": "Cost per cubic yard delivered",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "yards",
      "label": "Cubic yards needed",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "bags",
      "label": "Bags needed",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "bagCost",
      "label": "Cost buying bags",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "bulkCost",
      "label": "Cost buying bulk",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Savings by going bulk",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cuft",
      "label": "Cubic feet",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Bed area: 500 sq ft",
      "Depth: 3 in",
      "Bag size: 2 cu ft",
      "Cost per bag: 4.5 $",
      "Cost per cubic yard delivered: 45 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Cubic yards needed: 4.63",
      "Bags needed: 63",
      "Cost buying bags: $283.50",
      "Cost buying bulk: $225.00",
      "Savings by going bulk: $58.50",
      "Cubic feet: 125"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter bed area (sq ft).",
      "Enter depth (in).",
      "Enter bag size (cu ft).",
      "Enter cost per bag ($).",
      "Enter cost per cubic yard delivered ($).",
      "Read your cubic yards needed on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "area": 300,
        "depth": 1.7999999999999998,
        "bagSize": 1.2,
        "bagCost": 2.6999999999999997,
        "yardCost": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "area": 500,
        "depth": 3,
        "bagSize": 2,
        "bagCost": 4.5,
        "yardCost": 45
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "area": 800,
        "depth": 4.800000000000001,
        "bagSize": 3.2,
        "bagCost": 7.2,
        "yardCost": 70
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the mulch & topsoil calculator work?",
      "a": "Mulch is sold by the 2 cubic foot bag or by the cubic yard, and a yard is 13.5 bags. At three inches deep, one yard covers about 108 square feet. The underlying maths is: Cubic yards = Area × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27."
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "5 values: bed area, depth, bag size, cost per bag, and cost per cubic yard delivered. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the cubic yards needed result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/lawn-fertilizer",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-volume"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Mulch Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch-calculator)"
}