How Many Square Feet Does a Yard of Mulch Cover?
Part of Landscaping & Aggregate
Quick answer
One cubic yard of mulch covers 162 ft² at 2 inches deep, 108 ft² at 3 inches, and 81 ft² at 4 inches. The formula is coverage (ft²) = 324 ÷ depth in inches, because a cubic yard is a fixed 27 ft³.
A cubic yard is always 27 cubic feet, so the area it covers depends entirely on how deep you spread it. Spread thinner and it goes further; pile it deep and it covers less.
Coverage per cubic yard by depth
| Depth | Coverage per yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² |
| 2 in | 162 ft² |
| 3 in (standard) | 108 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² |
Shortcut: coverage in ft² = 324 ÷ depth in inches. For 3 inches, 324 ÷ 3 = 108 ft².
How many bags cover the same area?
A standard 2 ft³ bag covers about 12 ft² at 2 inches deep or 8 ft² at 3 inches. Thirteen and a half of those bags equal one cubic yard.
FAQs
How many yards of mulch do I need for 1,000 square feet?
About 9.3 cubic yards at 3 inches deep (1,000 ÷ 108), or 6.2 yards at 2 inches deep.