Construction
Mulch & Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and how deep you want the layer to estimate the cubic yards and cubic feet of material, the number of 2-cubic-foot bags, and the approximate weight in tons for gravel.
Quick answer: A 2–3 inch layer is standard. One cubic yard of mulch covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches.
- Coverage area200 sq ft
- Volume50 cu ft
- 2-cu-ft bags25
- Approx weight0.9 tons
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, or 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet. Bulk delivery by the yard is usually cheaper than bags for anything over a yard or two. Weight is approximate and varies with moisture and stone size.
How it works
1. Measure the bed area
Measure the length and width of each planting bed and multiply for square footage; break curved beds into simple shapes and add them. This is the surface you want to cover with mulch. Measure all beds you plan to mulch in one pass.
2. Pick a mulch depth
A 2-to-3-inch layer is standard — deep enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture without smothering roots. Convert the depth to feet (3 inches is 0.25 feet) for the volume math. Refreshing existing mulch needs less depth than a brand-new bed.
3. Convert to cubic yards
Mulch is sold by the cubic yard, which equals 27 cubic feet. One cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep or 162 square feet at 2 inches. The calculator multiplies area by depth and converts to cubic yards so you order the right amount.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards of mulch do I need?
Multiply the bed area by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 2–3 inch layer is standard for mulch beds.
How many bags in a cubic yard?
There are 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet in a cubic yard. For larger areas, bulk delivery by the yard is usually cheaper than bagged.
How much does gravel weigh?
Most gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so a 3-yard order is about 4 tons. The calculator shows an estimated tonnage for delivery planning.