How Much Mulch for 1,000 Square Feet?

To cover 1,000 sq ft with mulch 3 inches deep you need 9.26 cubic yards (250 cu ft). In bags, that's 125 bags of 2 cu ft or 84 bags of 3 cu ft.

Change any number below to match your project. The mulch calculator works for any size.

Area shape

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How it's worked out

  1. Volume: 1,000 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12 = 250 cu ft
  2. Cubic yards: 250 ÷ 27 = 9.26 yd³
  3. 2 cu ft bags: 250 ÷ 2 = 125 bags

1,000 sq ft at other depths

DepthCubic yards2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
2 in6.178456
3 in9.2612584
4 in12.35167112

Use 2 inches to top up existing mulch, 3 inches for new beds, and up to 4 inches where weeds are a problem. At 9.26 yards, bulk delivery usually costs less than bags.

Other common sizes

More detail: Bulk vs Bagged Mulch: How Much You Need and Which Is Cheaper