How much mulch do I need?
Enough to cover the bed 2 to 3 inches deep, the layer UF/IFAS recommends for plant beds to hold moisture in the soil and keep weeds down. Around trees, leave at least 2 inches of space between the mulch and the trunk.
Source UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping · Principle 4: Mulch ↗
How to calculate mulch
Here it is with your numbers:
- Find the area: 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft.
- Change the depth to feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft.
- Multiply the area by the depth: 100 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft.
- Divide by 27 for cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.9259 cu yd.
- Round to two decimal places: 0.93 cu yd.
- Divide by the bag size: 25 ÷ 2 = 12.5, rounded up to 13 bags.
It means you need 0.93 cubic yards of mulch. In bags, buy 13 bags of 2 cu ft: bags are rounded up so you don't run short.
For a round bed or a tree ring, measure all the way across and pick Circle. For an odd shape, split it into rectangles, or type its square footage.
Source Common Core State Standards · Grade 6, volume V = l × w × h (6.G.A.2) ↗Common Core State Standards · Grade 7, area of a circle (7.G.B.4) ↗NIST Handbook 44 (2026) · Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement ↗
How far one cubic yard of mulch goes
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it covers 108 square feet at 3 inches.
Mulch bags in a cubic yard
Bags are sold by volume, for example Scotts sells 1.5 and 2 cubic foot bags. Bags needed for one cubic yard, rounded up:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 14 |
| 3 cu ft | 9 |
Source ScottsMiracle-Gro · Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch (bag sizes) ↗
FAQs
How many cubic feet are in a yard of mulch?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft), whatever it is filled with. Mulch is sold in bulk by the cubic yard and in bags by the cubic foot.
Source NIST Handbook 44 (2026) · Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement ↗
How much mulch do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12), then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For plant beds, UF/IFAS recommends a 2- to 3-inch layer. A 10 ft × 10 ft bed at 3 inches needs 25 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards.
Source UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping · Principle 4: Mulch ↗
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
Divide 27 by the bag size. A cubic yard fills 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet (buy 14), 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet, or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet.
Source NIST Handbook 44 (2026) · Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement ↗
Sources
- UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Principle 4: Mulch
- NIST Handbook 44 (2026): Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement
- Common Core State Standards: Grade 6, volume V = l × w × h (6.G.A.2)
- Common Core State Standards: Grade 7, area of a circle (7.G.B.4)
- ScottsMiracle-Gro: Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch (bag sizes)