Measure length × width of each bed area. Break irregular shapes into rectangles and add them. For multiple beds, enter the combined total.
Look down at the bed from the edge. Estimate the fraction of visible soil versus plant bases and canopy spread. You're only covering the open ground.
Three inches is standard for quality mulch — thick enough to suppress weeds and retain moisture through a season. Two inches works for a refresh on an existing base. Four inches for new beds or heavy weed pressure.
Enter your material cost to see the total. Leave blank to skip.
Your Estimate
Ordering Tip
On the "mulch attracts termites" question
According to state agricultural extension programs and university horticultural departments, this is a myth. Mulch particles are too small to allow termites to tunnel through them effectively and protect themselves from desiccation — without which they cannot survive. Termites require dark, moist tunnels with direct soil access. Wood chip mulch cannot provide those conditions. The standard recommendation to keep mulch 6 inches from foundation walls is still sound advice — not because of termite risk, but because mulch against a structure retains moisture that can damage it over time.
The number this calculator needs is a measurement, not a guess.
Bed square footage from the curb is a guess. Bed square footage from Verdant Meridian is a trace — walk the property, outline the bed, get the real number. Order right the first time.
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How many square feet does a cubic yard of mulch cover?
At 3 inches — the standard depth for quality mulch — one cubic yard covers 108 square feet. At 2 inches it covers 162 square feet, at 4 inches it covers 81 square feet. The formula is: cubic yards = (square feet × depth in inches) ÷ 324.
Does mulch attract termites?
No — per state extension programs and university horticultural departments, this is a myth. Mulch particles are too small for termites to tunnel through and maintain the moisture they need to survive. The 6-inch clearance recommendation at foundations is valid, but for moisture retention reasons, not termite risk.
What is the best depth for mulch?
Three inches for established beds with quality material. It settles over several weeks into solid weed-suppressing coverage for roughly one season. Two inches for a top-dress on beds with an existing base. Four inches for new installations or beds with heavy weed pressure from scratch.
How many bags of mulch equal one cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Standard bagged mulch is sold in 2 cubic foot bags, so one cubic yard equals approximately 13.5 bags. For jobs over 3 cubic yards, bulk delivery is almost always more cost-effective than bagged material.
How do I account for plants when estimating mulch?
Measure the total bed, then visually estimate what fraction of the surface is occupied by plant bases and canopy spread. Stand at the edge and look down — what percentage is open soil versus plant? Subtract that before running the calculation. A lightly planted bed might be 15–25% occupied; a dense planting 50–65%.
Al — Author of Field Notes
A farm kid who spent two decades building a landscape maintenance company. Writes for operators still in the truck, trying to figure out what comes next.