How Many Bags of Mulch in a Yard?
A cubic yard of mulch fills 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet, so you need 14 bags. With 1.5 ft³ bags it is 18 bags, and with 3 ft³ bags, 9. That's because a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. One yard spread 3 in deep covers 108 ft². To see how many bags a bulk order is worth, or how many your beds need, use the calculator and tables below.
How to use the how many bags of mulch in a yard?
- To compare a bulk price with bags, read the table: find the number of yards you were quoted and see the equivalent bags for each size.
- To size your own beds, enter each bed's length and width (or diameter for a circle), adding one area per bed.
- Set the depth: 2–3 in for most beds, never more than 4 in.
- Check the bag size printed on the bag (most are 2 ft³) and read the bag counts for all three sizes in the result.
Why a yard is 13.5 bags
Mulch is sold two ways: bulk by the cubic yard, and bagged by the cubic foot. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so:
- Bags per yard = 27 ÷ bag size (ft³)
- 2 ft³ bags: 27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, buy 14
- 1.5 ft³ bags: 27 ÷ 1.5 = 18
- 3 ft³ bags: 27 ÷ 3 = 9
Bag sizes are printed on the front, in cubic feet and sometimes in liters or quarts. A 2 ft³ bag is about 57 liters.
Worked example: one cubic yard
The calculator above is loaded with a 12 × 9 ft bed, 3 in deep, with no waste:
- Area: 12 × 9 = 108 ft².
- Volume: 108 × 3 ÷ 12 = 27 ft³, which is exactly 1 yd³.
- Bags: 27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, rounded up to 14 bags of 2 ft³. In 1.5 ft³ bags that's 18; in 3 ft³ bags, 9.
So one cubic yard of bulk mulch covers the same 108 ft² at 3 in as 14 bags. To find which is cheaper, multiply your bag price by 13.5 and compare it with the bulk price per yard plus any delivery fee.
Bags or bulk: which is better?
Bags are tidy and easy to carry, stay dry in the car, and suit a few small beds or a top-up. You buy exactly what you need and can return unopened bags at many stores.
Bulk usually costs less per yard and saves opening and disposing of dozens of plastic bags, but most suppliers charge for delivery, and you need somewhere to tip the pile and a wheelbarrow. As a rough guide, bulk becomes worth pricing from about 2–3 yards (27–41 bags of 2 ft³).
Whichever you choose, Penn State Extension recommends 2–4 in of organic mulch and no more, so measure your beds first with the mulch calculator.
Cubic yards of mulch to bags, by bag size
| Mulch | 1.5 ft³ bags | 2 ft³ bags | 3 ft³ bags | Area covered at 2 in | At 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 yd³ | 9 | 7 | 5 | 81 ft² | 54 ft² |
| 1 yd³ | 18 | 14 | 9 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² |
| 1.5 yd³ | 27 | 21 | 14 | 243 ft² | 162 ft² |
| 2 yd³ | 36 | 27 | 18 | 324 ft² | 216 ft² |
| 3 yd³ | 54 | 41 | 27 | 486 ft² | 324 ft² |
| 4 yd³ | 72 | 54 | 36 | 648 ft² | 432 ft² |
| 5 yd³ | 90 | 68 | 45 | 810 ft² | 540 ft² |
| 10 yd³ | 180 | 135 | 90 | 1,620 ft² | 1,080 ft² |
Bags rounded up, no waste. One cubic yard covers 324 ft² at 1 in deep, 162 ft² at 2 in and 108 ft² at 3 in.
Bags per yard by bag size
| Bag size | In litres | Bags per yd³ (exact) | Bags to buy for 1 yd³ | Area one bag covers at 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 ft³ | 42 L | 18 | 18 | 6 ft² |
| 2 ft³ | 57 L | 13.5 | 14 | 8 ft² |
| 3 ft³ | 85 L | 9 | 9 | 12 ft² |
2 ft³ is the most common bag in US stores; 1.5 and 3 ft³ bags are also sold. Some bags are labelled in litres or quarts: 1 ft³ = 28.3 L = 25.7 dry quarts.
Mulch buying tips
- Check the bag size. Store-brand and premium bags aren't always 2 ft³. A 1.5 ft³ bag can look like a bargain until you count how many you need.
- Account for settling. Fresh mulch settles a little after rain. A 5% allowance in the calculator covers it.
- Count tree rings as circles. Use the circle shape with the ring's full diameter; you'll have a little spare around the trunk.
- Topping up? Measure the depth already there and only add the difference to reach 2–3 in.
- Buy all bags from one batch. Dyed mulches can vary in color between batches; buy them together.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
13.5 bags of 2 ft³ (buy 14), 18 bags of 1.5 ft³ or 9 bags of 3 ft³. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How many 2 cu ft bags of mulch are in 3 yards?
3 yards is 81 ft³, so 41 bags of 2 ft³ (40.5 rounded up), 54 bags of 1.5 ft³ or 27 bags of 3 ft³.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch by the yard or in bags?
Bulk is usually cheaper per yard for larger jobs, but delivery fees can wipe out the saving on small orders. Multiply your bag price by 13.5 and compare it with the bulk price per yard plus delivery.
How many bags of mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
At 3 in deep, 100 ft² needs 25 ft³: 13 bags of 2 ft³. At 2 in it is 9 bags.
How much area does one bag of mulch cover?
A 2 ft³ bag covers 8 ft² at 3 in deep, 12 ft² at 2 in. A 3 ft³ bag covers 12 ft² at 3 in.