Mulch calculator for North Dakota
Get yard or bag totals for each planting bed, with depth tips for healthy plants.
Enter your project dimensions
One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet, equal to exactly 13.5 bags sized 2-cubic-foot at the garden center. That conversion handles most of the calculation. Put in your bed measurements and depth below to see bulk cubic yards alongside the bag equivalent, making the store comparison straightforward. Shredded hardwood is light at around 600 lb per yard, so mulch is sold by volume, with bulk delivery rather than weight.
Calculate mulch for planting beds
- In feet, measure every bed and total the figures. For a circular bed, take its diameter, then select circle mode for the area.
- Use 2 inches to freshen an existing layer and 3 inches for bare or newly made beds. Once depth exceeds 4 inches, roots can start lacking air.
- The answer gives bulk volume in cubic yards and a store-bag equivalent of 13.5 bags per yard.
Bags (2 cu ft) = cubic yards × 13.5
Coverage by depth
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 10 bags (2 cu ft) cover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 120 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 80 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 60 sq ft |
Common order amounts
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Cubic yards | ≈ Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation beds along the house | 40 x 3 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 15 bags |
| Four tree rings | 4 ft across each | 3" | 0.5 yd³ | 6 bags |
| All beds, average yard | ≈ 500 sq ft | 3" | 4.6 yd³ | 63 bags |
| Annual refresh of the same beds | ≈ 500 sq ft | 1.5" | 2.3 yd³ | 31 bags |
| Playground surface | 15 x 15 ft | 6" | 4.2 yd³ | 56 bags |
Bulk versus bags: cost comparison
Ten bags marks the break point. Bags are handy below that amount; beyond it, bulk is usually the lower-cost option, and free delivery takes truck rental out of the equation. Each spring, people who brought home 15 bags the weekend before often reconsider the cost at the parking lot. Get One yard delivered, tarp any leftover material, and the job is wrapped up.
Mulch depths for plant care
- After raking loose last year's layer, add 2 inches over it.
- For uncovered ground, put down 3 inches. It limits weed sprouting and helps soil retain moisture through July.
- Leave a clear 3 to 6 inches between tree trunks and mulch. Bark can decay and rodents can move in when mulch is heaped against it. Keep the layer level, shaped like a donut rather than a volcano.
- Keep the layer at 4 inches or less. When deep mulch remains wet, roots may not get enough air.
- Use playground-certified chips, not landscape shred, for play areas, with 6 inches minimum depth.
Select a mulch type
Shredded hardwood is the calculator's default material. It locks together and tends to stay put on slight grades. Chips and nuggets may remain usable a season or two longer, though heavy rain can float and disperse them. Dyed mulch fades more slowly but breaks down at a slower rate. Each type requires the same amount because the volume is unchanged; the difference is appearance and how often it needs refreshing.
On delivery day
A three-yard load is roughly the size of a small car. Make room in the driveway equal to a parking spot, and put down a tarp because shredded mulch can mark fresh concrete. Use it within a week or two, since a large pile sitting for a month can heat in the middle and sour. Allow 30-45 minutes of wheelbarrow time for each yard. Reserve the last half-yard for any missed beds behind the garage.
Common mulch math questions
How many mulch bags make a cubic yard?
How many cubic feet does a yard of mulch hold?
How much shredded mulch is needed?
What area can one yard of mulch cover?
What is the weight of one yard of mulch?
What does a yard of mulch cost?
Will mulch bring in termites?
Can fresh mulch go over old mulch?
Other calculators
Avoid the 27-bag cart.
Get bulk shredded hardwood by the yard, with free delivery and driveway tipping.
