How many square feet does a yard of mulch cover?
One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, or 324 square feet at 1 inch.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Spread at a depth of d inches, it covers 324 ÷ d square feet. Bags work the same way: a 2 cu ft bag covers 24 ÷ d.
| Depth | Per cubic yard | Per 2 cu ft bag | Per 3 cu ft bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 24 sq ft | 36 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 12 sq ft | 18 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 8 sq ft | 12 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 6 sq ft | 9 sq ft |
How deep to go
2 to 3 inches suits most beds. Up to 4 inches holds back weeds better, but more than that can starve roots of air. Keep mulch a few inches away from tree trunks and plant stems.
A cubic yard is about 13 or 14 bags of 2 cu ft. At 3 or more cubic yards, bulk delivery from a landscape supplier is usually cheaper than bags.