Mulch calculator · cubic yards
Mulch Calculator
How much mulch do you need? Measure your beds, tree rings or playground and get the cubic yards.
1 · Material
2 · Two quick choices: depth, then size
2a · Pick a depthLength × width in feet. Add as many beds as you need; we add them up.
Recommended order
3 yd³
of Red Mulch
covers 200 sq ft at 3″ · 1 dump truck
200 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³. Plus 10% for settling and spreading, rounded up to a whole yd³.
3 · Get your delivered quote
One cubic yard of red mulch
- = 27 cubic feet
- covers 108 sq ft at 3″
- weighs about 600 lb
- a full truck is about 18 yd³
About this material: Red Mulch →
How much does a yard of mulch cover?
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. The calculator then adds the buffer for compaction and spreading and rounds up.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Material | Depth | Used for | Coverage | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playground Mulch (EWF) | 8″ | Toddler sets and low decks (CPSC 6″ settled). | 40 sq ft per yd³ | 2.47 yd³ |
| Playground Mulch (EWF) | 12″ | Most backyard swing sets (CPSC 9″ settled). (typical) | 27 sq ft per yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| Playground Mulch (EWF) | 16″ | Schools, daycares, parks (CPSC 12″ settled). | 20 sq ft per yd³ | 4.94 yd³ |
| Red Mulch | 2″ | Refresh last year’s mulch. | 162 sq ft per yd³ | 0.62 yd³ |
| Red Mulch | 3″ | Most beds and tree rings. (typical) | 108 sq ft per yd³ | 0.93 yd³ |
| Red Mulch | 4″ | Bare soil, best weed control. | 81 sq ft per yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
| Brown Mulch | 2″ | Refresh last year’s mulch. | 162 sq ft per yd³ | 0.62 yd³ |
| Brown Mulch | 3″ | Most beds and tree rings. (typical) | 108 sq ft per yd³ | 0.93 yd³ |
| Brown Mulch | 4″ | Bare soil, best weed control. | 81 sq ft per yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
| Black Mulch | 2″ | Refresh last year’s mulch. | 162 sq ft per yd³ | 0.62 yd³ |
| Black Mulch | 3″ | Most beds and tree rings. (typical) | 108 sq ft per yd³ | 0.93 yd³ |
| Black Mulch | 4″ | Bare soil, best weed control. | 81 sq ft per yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
| Pine Bark Mulch | 2″ | Refresh an existing layer (nuggets look patchy below 2″). | 162 sq ft per yd³ | 0.62 yd³ |
| Pine Bark Mulch | 3″ | Most beds and borders. (typical) | 108 sq ft per yd³ | 0.93 yd³ |
| Pine Bark Mulch | 4″ | Bare soil, best weed control. | 81 sq ft per yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
Before the buffer. Updated November 2026
Playground mulch calculator: depth by fall height
Pick the depth from the highest point a child can fall from (the top platform or the swing beam). The CPSC lists the settled depth of engineered wood fiber for each fall height. Loose mulch packs down about 25%, so the calculator uses the install depth.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Fall height | Settled depth (CPSC) | Install depth | 1 yd³ covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 ft | 6 in | 8 in | ~40 sq ft |
| Up to 7 ft | 9 in | 12 in | ~27 sq ft |
| Up to 12 ft | 12 in | 16 in | ~20 sq ft |
Source: CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook, Table 2 ↗ · More on safety and certification: playground mulch.
How much mulch for common projects
Swipe the table sideways →
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree ring | 3″ | 6 ft across (28 sq ft) | ~0.3 yd³ (1 yd³ covers 4 rings) |
| Front & side beds | 3″ | 960 sq ft | ~8.9 yd³ |
| Whole-yard refresh | 3″ | 1,920 sq ft | ~17.8 yd³ |
| Backyard swing set | 12″ | 20 × 20 ft | ~14.8 yd³ playground mulch |
| School or HOA playground | 12″ | 30 × 24 ft | ~26.7 yd³ playground mulch |
Before the buffer. Measure your own areas above for an order quantity.
Which mulch: playground, red, brown, black or pine bark?
Delivered by dump truck. “From” prices are per yd³ on a full truck, delivery included; the second line is the smallest load.
Playground Mulch (EWF) →Engineered wood fiber that cushions falls under swings and slides.From $53.08/yd³ on a full truck2 yd³ from $448.88 delivered
Red Mulch →Shredded mulch dyed red, for beds and tree rings.From $46.03/yd³ on a full truck2 yd³ from $432.68 delivered
Brown Mulch →Natural-looking shredded mulch for beds that blend in.From $38.97/yd³ on a full truck2 yd³ from $416.50 delivered
Black Mulch →Dark shredded mulch that makes plants stand out.From $51.16/yd³ on a full truck2 yd³ from $444.46 delivered
Pine Bark Mulch →Pine bark nuggets that break down slowly.From $48.59/yd³ on a full truck2 yd³ from $438.58 deliveredMulch mistakes to avoid
Too thin
A 1-inch layer breaks down by midsummer and lets weeds through. 3 inches is the standard for beds; top up every 1–2 years.
Piled against trunks
A “mulch volcano” rots bark and invites disease. Keep mulch 2–3 inches from the trunk and shape a flat ring.
Too deep over roots
More than 4 inches over established plants holds too much water and starves surface roots of air.
Landscape mulch under swings
Colored bed mulch packs hard and stops cushioning. Use playground mulch at the depth for your fall height.
No edging
Mulch without an edge drifts into lawns and walkways. Add steel, brick or a trenched edge.
Ordering short
Running out mid-project means a second small delivery, which costs more per yard. The calculator’s buffer covers settling and uneven spots.
Mulch calculator questions
Need another material? All calculators →
Know how much mulch you need? Get your delivered quote.
We’ll quote your 3 yd³ of red mulch, delivery included.