How To Calculate Cubic Yards of Mulch and/or Material Required

In general, for 100 square feet area, you'd need approximately 0.62 cubic yards for a 2-inch depth and 1.54 cubic yards for a 5-inch depth. Adjust amounts according to your specific area and desired depth.

 

 

For Rectangles: Measure the length and width that the product will cover then input the desired depth. Most yards aren’t perfectly square so factor in a small difference in the final calculation.

For Circles: Measure diameter (width) of the circle, then input the desired depth. Factor in a small difference in the final calculation for the size of the tree trunk.

You should plan on 2-3" depth of mulch over previously mulched areas and 3-4" depth of mulch for new mulched areas.

A cubic yard is the volume of material which fits in a space one yard wide by one yard deep by one yard high. Cubic yards are used to measure materials ranging from concrete to mulch for your beds and gardens.

Common materials that are measured in cubic yards include:

Concrete

Gravel

Sand

Rock

Fill Dirt

Topsoil

Mulch Compost

 

 

Ready to Crunch Numbers? Let's Dive In!

 

To determine the amount of materials you need in cubic yards, you must first convert all three dimensions to the same unit of measurement. There are:

27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3’ x 3’ x 3’)

46,656 cubic inches in one cubic yard (36” x 36” x 36”)

For example, to find the amount of concrete needed for a slab 6” thick by 12’ long by 12’ wide:

Convert the dimension in inches to feet (6” ÷ 12” = 0.5’)

Multiply the three dimensions together to find the number of cubic feet (0.5’ x 12’ x 12 = 72 cubic feet)

Divide the cubic feet by the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard (27) to find the number of cubic yards (72 ÷ 27 = 2.67 cu. yd.).

      You can find the same results by converting all three dimensions to yards by:

      Convert the dimension in inches to yards (6” ÷ 36” = 0.167 yards)

      Convert the dimensions in feet to yards (12’ ÷ 3 = 4 yards)

      Multiply the three dimensions together to find the number of cubic yards (0.167 x 4 x 4 = 2.67 cu. yd.)