Mulch & Soil Calculator

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Calculate how much mulch, topsoil or compost you need for any bed — get the volume in cubic yards and cubic metres, bags required, approximate weight and cost.

m
m
cm
$ yd³
Volume needed – cubic yards
Volume (metric) –
Bags needed –
Approx. weight –
Bags assume a standard 2 cubic-foot bag. Weight uses typical bulk densities (mulch ~400, compost ~600, topsoil ~1300 kg/m³) and varies with moisture. Bag counts are rounded up.

About Mulch & Soil Calculator

The mulch and soil calculator tells you how much material to order for a garden bed. Choose mulch, topsoil or compost, enter the bed’s length, width and the depth you want to spread, and it computes the volume in both cubic yards and cubic metres — the units bulk suppliers quote.

Because material is also sold in bags, the calculator converts the volume into the number of standard 2-cubic-foot bags, rounded up. It estimates the load’s approximate weight too, using typical bulk densities — around 400 kg/m³ for mulch, 600 for compost and 1300 for topsoil — so you know whether a car trip or a delivery makes sense.

Add a price per cubic yard to see the estimated cost before ordering. The tool is free and runs instantly in your browser, letting you compare a two-inch and three-inch mulch depth in seconds. Actual weight varies with moisture, so treat the tonnage as a guide.

How to use Mulch & Soil Calculator

  1. Pick the material: mulch, topsoil or compost.
  2. Choose metric or imperial units and enter the bed length, width and depth.
  3. Optionally enable the cost estimate and enter the price per cubic yard.
  4. Read the volume in cubic yards and m³, the bags needed, the approximate weight and the cost.

Frequently asked questions

Two to three inches (5–8 cm) suits most beds — enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture without smothering roots. Keep mulch pulled back a little from plant stems and tree trunks.

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals about 13.5 standard 2-cubic-foot bags. The calculator does this conversion automatically and rounds the bag count up.

Bulk is usually cheaper per cubic yard once you need more than roughly 10–15 bags, but it requires delivery or a suitable vehicle. Compare the calculator’s bag count and weight estimate against local prices.

It uses typical bulk densities — mulch around 400 kg/m³, compost 600 and topsoil 1300 — but moisture changes weight considerably. Wet topsoil in particular can weigh noticeably more than the estimate.

Approximate it as one or more rectangles, calculate each section and add the volumes. Slightly overestimating is wise, since settled material compacts after spreading and watering.
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