Bags vs bulk
Bags are cheaper for this bed
With these prices and $100 delivery, bulk starts to win at about 17.5 cu yd (1,889 sq ft at 3 in), but bags win again at some sizes up to about 21.6 cu yd, and bulk wins at every size above that. Bulk cost rises in half-yard steps.
Compare: Bulk mulch, 2 cu yd
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $30.00–$80.00 per cu yd
Use a price like 30.00.
Delivery for bulk
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $50.00–$150.00 per delivery
Use a price like 50.00.
Bulk is the order at its price plus one delivery fee, which many suppliers charge separately. Ask yours and enter it above; it carries over to the gravel and topsoil calculators.
How it works
The formula
bags = cu ft ÷ cu ft per bag, round up
cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27, round up to 0.5
Assumptions
- Bags are counted by the volume printed on the bag, not the weight, because wet mulch weighs more. Common sizes are 2, 1.5, 3 cu ft; 2 cu ft is the usual one.
- Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard, in half-yard steps, so we round up to the next half yard.
- A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, which is 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
- Mulch settles a little, and some gets raked off the edges. If your bed is uneven, add a bag or two.
Worked example
A 10 × 20 ft bed, 3 in deep
- 10 × 20 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50.0 cu ft
- In 2 cu ft bags: 50.0 ÷ 2 = 25.0, round up to 25 bags
- In bulk: 50.0 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cu yd, round up to 2 cu yd
- Bags at $4.50 (the middle of our typical range): 25 × $4.50 = $112.50
- Bulk at $55.00 a yard: 2 × $55.00 = $110, plus one $100 delivery = $210
Common bed sizes at 2 and 3 in
| Bed | Sq ft | 2 in: cu yd | 2 in: bags | 3 in: cu yd | 3 in: bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 | 0.62 | 9 | 0.93 | 13 |
| 10 × 20 ft | 200 | 1.23 | 17 | 1.85 | 25 |
| 10 × 30 ft | 300 | 1.85 | 25 | 2.78 | 38 |
| 20 × 25 ft | 500 | 3.09 | 42 | 4.63 | 63 |
Bags are 2 cu ft and rounded up. Bulk is ordered in half-yard steps, so round the cu yd column up to the next 0.5.
Questions people ask
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
13.5, so 14 bags of 2 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cu ft. With 1.5 cu ft bags it takes 18, and with 3 cu ft bags 9.
How much does a yard of mulch cover?
About 108 sq ft at 3 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, and 81 sq ft at 4 in.
How deep should mulch be?
Spread 2 to 3 in in beds and 3 to 4 in around trees. Keep it about 2 in away from trunks and stems, because mulch piled against bark holds moisture and invites rot. Deeper than 4 in can smother roots.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bags or in bulk?
Bulk usually costs less per cubic yard: at the middle of our typical prices, 14 bags cost about $63 and a yard of bulk about $55. One delivery at about $100 changes that for small jobs: bulk starts to win at about 17.5 cu yd. Enter your supplier's prices above and compare.
How many bags of mulch for 100 sq ft?
13 bags of 2 cu ft at 3 in deep, or 9 bags at 2 in deep.