How much mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
To cover 100 square feet 3 inches deep you need 13 bags of 2 cubic feet, 9 bags of 3 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards in bulk. A 2 inch refresh takes 9 bags of 2 cubic feet; a 4 inch layer for weed control takes 17.
Mulch for 100 square feet by depth
| Depth | 2 cu ft bags | 3 cu ft bags | Bulk (cubic yards) | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 9 | 6 | 0.62 | refreshing beds that already have mulch |
| 3 in | 13 | 9 | 0.93 | new beds, around shrubs and trees |
| 4 in | 17 | 12 | 1.23 | weed suppression, bare beds, playground chips |
A 2 cubic foot bag covers 8 square feet at 3 inches; a cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches. Bag counts are rounded up.
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Bags or bulk for 100 square feet?
At 13 bags this is a bag job. Expect to pay around $52 at $4 a bag, and the whole order fits in one trip in a car or small SUV. Bulk would be only 0.93 cubic yards, under the minimum most yards deliver, and the delivery fee would cost more than the mulch.
Spreading 100 square feet of mulch
- Pull weeds and edge the beds first; mulch over weeds just hides them for a month.
- Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches away from tree trunks and plant stems. A mulch volcano against the trunk rots the bark.
- Water the beds before mulching so the layer seals in moisture instead of blocking it.
- Spread 3 inches on new beds and 1 to 2 inches when refreshing; more than 4 inches starves roots of air.
- 100 square feet at 3 inches is about 10 wheelbarrow loads, roughly 1.1 to 1.9 hours of work for one person.
Filling new planting beds? The plant spacing calculator counts the plants and the topsoil calculator handles the soil underneath.
Common questions
How many bags of mulch do I need for 100 square feet?
13 bags of 2 cubic feet or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet at 3 inches deep. At 2 inches it is 9 and 6 bags; at 4 inches, 17 and 12.
How many yards of mulch for 100 square feet?
0.93 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, 0.62 at 2 inches, or 1.23 at 4 inches. One cubic yard covers about 108 square feet 3 inches deep.
How much does mulch for 100 square feet cost?
About $52 in bags at $4 each, or $28 to $46 for 0.93 yards of bulk hardwood mulch before delivery. Dyed and cedar mulch cost more; municipal mulch is often free if you haul it.