Landscaping · Free Tool

Mulch & topsoil calculator.

Cubic yards, tons, and bag count for mulch, topsoil, triple mix, compost, or river rock. Tells you whether to order bulk delivery or just grab bags from the yard.

Inputs

Sum any odd-shaped beds and add the total here.

Cedar, hemlock, or dyed black/brown. 2 cu ft bags = 13.5 per yard.

8% standard. Mulch settles ~25% in the first year.

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Cubic yards
1.6
yd³

160 sqft × 3″ deep + 8% waste.

Bulk delivery
1.6
cu yards

Recommended — ≈ 0.8 tons. Most yards charge by yd³ or ton.

Bagged alternative
22
× 2 cu ft

Realistic only at < 1 yd. Above that, bulk is cheaper and faster.

Approx weight
0.8
tons

0.5 t/yd³ — your truck capacity check.

Coverage
160
sqft

At 3″ depth across all beds entered.

Field notes. A 1/2-ton pickup carries ~1 yd of mulch or 1/2 yd of topsoil safely. Anything more, get it delivered. Mulch over 4″ deep suffocates plants — refresh existing beds with 1-2″ instead of piling on. For new lawn, screen topsoil ≥ 4″ over compacted base before seeding or sodding.
Material list — ready to order

Take this to the yard.

Copy/paste into an email, screenshot it for your supplier, or tap a partner below to send it straight to their order desk.

Bark mulch — bulk
≈ 0.8 tons
1.6cu yd
Bark mulch — bagged
22× 2 cu ft bags
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