Estimate the volume of mulch needed to cover a garden bed, walkway, or other area at a chosen depth. Enter a known area or up to 12 rectangles. Results include cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic metres, and liters, plus an optional material-cost estimate.
Formula
Lengths convert through metres (1 ft = 0.3048 m). Volume is area × depth.
V_m³ = area_m² × depth_m
V_ft³ = V_m³ / 0.028316846592
V_yd³ = V_ft³ / 27
V_L = V_m³ × 1000
Bags round up. A 2 cu ft bag is V_ft³ / 2; a 60 L bag is V_L / 60.
Typical coverage
A 2–4 inch layer is a workable baseline for most beds. Landscaping may use the thin end of that range; vegetable gardens often sit closer to 2–3 inches.
| Area | Depth | Volume | 2 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 sq ft | 2 in | 33.3 ft³ / 1.23 yd³ | 17 |
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 2 in | 33.3 ft³ / 1.23 yd³ | 17 |
| 10 ft × 20 ft + 5 ft × 8 ft | 2 in | 40 ft³ / 1.48 yd³ | 20 |
| 20 m² | 5 cm | 1,000 L / 1.00 m³ | — |
Mulch is a layer of material on the soil surface. Organic mulches (leaves, wood chips, grass clippings) decompose and feed the soil; synthetic mulches (rubber, plastic, some dyed mixes) last longer but do not add nutrients.
Examples
200 square feet at 2 inches
Default total area. Volume is 33.3 ft³ (1.23 yd³, 0.94 m³, 944 L). At $10 per cubic foot the material cost is $333.33. Seventeen 2 cu ft bags at $4 each are $68.00.
Two rectangular beds
A 10 ft by 20 ft bed plus a 5 ft by 8 ft bed is 240 sq ft. At 2 in the volume is 40 ft³ (1.48 yd³, 1,133 L).
Metric bed
Twenty square metres at 5 cm is 1,000 L (1 m³, 1.31 yd³, 35.3 ft³).