If you live in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, or anywhere in Volusia or Flagler County, one of the most common questions we hear is: “How much mulch do I actually need?” Order too little and your beds look thin and patchy. Order too much and you’ve paid for extra yards you didn’t really need.
This guide gives you a simple, Florida-specific formula to calculate mulch in cubic yards, plus a clear depth chart so you know whether you need 2", 3", 4" or 6" of mulch.
At Mulch and Stuff by Smart Choice, we also back up these numbers with a true 1.0 cubic yard CAT bucket and a Product Cubic Yard Calculator on our mulch product pages, so you can double-check your math before you order.
Step 1 – Decide Where You’re Mulching
Start by deciding exactly where the mulch is going. Common areas include:
- Front and back landscape beds
- Around trees and shrubs
- Along walkways, fences, and foundations
- Play areas or high-traffic sections
For the best accuracy, break your property into sections and calculate each one separately. For example:
- Front flower bed along the house
- Bed around the mailbox
- Tree rings in the backyard
We’ll measure each section, calculate the mulch, and then add everything together at the end.
Step 2 – Choose the Right Mulch Depth for Florida
In Florida’s heat, sun, and heavy rain, mulch does more than look good—it protects your soil, helps hold moisture, and blocks weeds. Here is the standard depth guide we recommend:
| Mulch Depth | Best Use |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | Light refresh on beds that already have some mulch and decent weed control. |
| 3 inches | Standard depth for most flower beds and landscape areas in Florida (good weed suppression and moisture control). |
| 4 inches | Enhanced weed suppression in problem areas or beds that get full sun and dry out quickly. |
| 6 inches | Playground mulch and safety surfacing where extra depth is needed for cushioning. |
If you’re not sure which depth to choose, 3 inches is usually the smart “default” for most Florida landscape beds.
Step 3 – Measure Your Beds in Feet (Length × Width)
Next, measure each bed in feet. You can use a tape measure, a measuring wheel, or simply pace it off if you’re comfortable estimating.
For a rectangular or square bed:
- Length (feet) × Width (feet) = Area in square feet
Example:
- Front bed along the house is 20 feet long
- Bed sticks out 4 feet from the house
Area = 20 ft × 4 ft = 80 square feet
For curved beds, break them into smaller rectangles or squares, estimate each one, and add them up. A quick sketch on paper can help.
Step 4 – Convert Depth in Inches to Feet
Mulch depth is usually talked about in inches, but our volume formula needs depth in feet. Here are the most important conversions you’ll use:
- 2 inches ÷ 12 = 0.17 feet (rounded from 0.166…)
- 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet
- 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.33 feet (rounded from 0.333…)
- 6 inches ÷ 12 = 0.50 feet
We’ll plug these numbers into the formula in the next step.
Step 5 – Use the Simple Cubic Yard Formula
Once you know the area in square feet and your depth in feet, you can calculate mulch volume in cubic yards with one simple formula:
Step A – Find cubic feet
Area (sq ft) × Depth (ft) = Volume in cubic feet
Step B – Convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Cubic feet ÷ 27 = Cubic yards
There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
Real Florida Example – Front Flower Bed
Let’s go back to that front bed example in Ormond Beach:
- Length: 20 feet
- Width: 4 feet
- Desired depth: 3 inches (standard Florida bed depth)
Step 1 – Area in square feet
20 ft × 4 ft = 80 sq ft
Step 2 – Convert depth to feet
3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
Step 3 – Cubic feet
80 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 20 cubic feet
Step 4 – Cubic yards
20 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 0.74 cubic yards
What should you order? Always round up. In this case, the smart choice is to order 1 cubic yard of mulch for that bed.
Another Example – Larger Side Yard Bed
Now let’s say you have a long side bed along a fence in Daytona Beach:
- Length: 50 feet
- Width: 10 feet
- Desired depth: 3 inches
Step 1 – Area in square feet
50 ft × 10 ft = 500 sq ft
Step 2 – Convert depth to feet
3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
Step 3 – Cubic feet
500 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 125 cubic feet
Step 4 – Cubic yards
125 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 4.63 cubic yards
What should you order? Again, round up. In this case, you would order 5 cubic yards of mulch to hit your 3" target depth.
Quick Reference – Mulch Yardage Chart (Per 1 Cubic Yard)
If you don’t feel like doing the math by hand every time, this quick chart shows how many square feet 1 cubic yard of mulch will cover at different depths:
| Depth | Coverage per 1 Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | ≈ 160 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ≈ 110–120 sq ft (commonly use 108–120 sq ft) |
| 4 inches | ≈ 80 sq ft |
| 6 inches | ≈ 50–55 sq ft |
Use this chart as a quick sanity check after you run your numbers through the full formula or our calculator.
Use Our Product Cubic Yard Calculator to Double-Check Your Math
If you don’t want to break out a calculator, you can use our built-in Product Cubic Yard Calculator found on our mulch product pages. Simply enter your:
- Length (feet)
- Width (feet)
- Desired depth (inches)
The calculator will estimate the cubic yards you need and can help you plan how many loads to order. It’s especially helpful if you’re also comparing bulk vs. bagged materials or planning multiple beds at once.
To try it, open any of our premium mulch products (such as our brown, red, black, or gold mulches) and look for the Product Cubic Yard Calculator section on the page.
Why Honest Bucket Size Matters When You’re Ordering Mulch
Even if you measure everything correctly, you can still run short if your supplier loads less than a true cubic yard. Some companies use buckets that hold only 0.75 cubic yards but still sell them as a full 'yard,' which can leave homeowners frustrated and projects unfinished.
At Mulch and Stuff by Smart Choice, we use a true 1.0 cubic yard CAT loader bucket and back it with our full-yard honesty promise. When you pay for 1 yard of mulch, you get a full yard—not a fraction of one. That’s how your calculations stay accurate from paper to project.
Which Mulch Should I Choose for My Florida Yard?
Once you know how many yards you need, the fun part is choosing the right mulch for your property. Popular options for Ormond Beach and surrounding areas include:
You can see them all together on our Premium Mulch Collection page.
- Premium Brown Chocolate Mulch – Classic look that works with almost any home color.
- Premium Red Mulch – Bold, high-contrast curb appeal that pops against green lawns and palm trees.
- Premium Black Mulch – Modern, clean look that makes plants and flowers stand out.
- Gold mulch or pine bark minis – Warm, natural tones that blend beautifully with Florida landscapes.
If you’re not sure which color or type is best, you can always give us a call or text and we’ll help you match the right mulch to your home and plantings.
Need Help? We’ll Walk Through the Numbers With You.
If you’d rather talk it through than do math, we’re happy to help. You can contact Mulch and Stuff by Smart Choice or call/text us directly. We work with homeowners, HOAs, property managers, and contractors across Volusia and Flagler Counties every day, and we can give you a realistic recommendation based on your project and budget.
Here’s the easiest way to order mulch that fits your project:
- Measure your beds (length × width) and pick your depth (2", 3", 4" or 6").
- Use the formula or our Product Cubic Yard Calculator to estimate your total yards.
- Round up slightly to account for settling and edging around curves.
- Order your mulch online or contact us for personal assistance.
When you combine accurate calculations with our true full-yard loading, you get the results you paid for—without surprise shortages.
Ready to Calculate Your Mulch and Place an Order?
Use this guide to estimate your mulch needs today, then:
- Open one of our premium mulch products and use the Product Cubic Yard Calculator on the page.
- Schedule pickup (or call us: 386 302 6444 to schedule delivery) directly through our online store.
- Or contact Mulch and Stuff by Smart Choice for help planning your project.