Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Cubic yards needed
4.63
Bags needed
63
Cost buying bags
$283.50
Cost buying bulk
$225.00
Savings by going bulk
$58.50
Cubic feet
125.0
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter bed area (sq ft).
- 2Enter depth (in).
- 3Enter bag size (cu ft).
- 4Enter cost per bag ($).
- 5Enter cost per cubic yard delivered ($).
- 6Read your cubic yards needed on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
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.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
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 $
Results
- Cubic yards needed: 4.63
- Bags needed: 63
- Cost buying bags: $283.50
- Cost buying bulk: $225.00
- Savings by going bulk: $58.50
- Cubic feet: 125
What each field means
Inputs
- Bed area (sq ft)
- The bed area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 500 sq ft so you have a working example on load.
- Depth (in)
- The depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 3 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.5–12 in.
- Bag size (cu ft)
- The bag size used in the calculation, measured in cu ft. Starts at 2 cu ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.5–4 cu ft.
- Cost per bag ($)
- The cost per bag used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 4.5 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Cost per cubic yard delivered ($)
- The cost per cubic yard delivered used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 45 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Cubic yards needed
- Returned as a decimal number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Bags needed
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cost buying bags
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cost buying bulk
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Savings by going bulk
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cubic feet
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How does the mulch & topsoil calculator work?
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.
What do I need to enter?
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.
What does the cubic yards needed result mean?
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.
Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser.
How accurate is the result?
It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
Who is this tool for?
It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app.
Accuracy and 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.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Mulch Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mulch Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Mulch Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch-calculator) (2026).