Calculate how many cubic yards, and how many 2 cubic foot bags, of mulch you need based on the area and depth of your garden bed.
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Volume of mulch needed = Length × Width × Depth, with depth converted from inches to feet. This calculator shows the result in cubic yards (how bulk mulch is typically sold and delivered) and in standard 2 cubic foot bags (how bagged mulch is typically sold at garden centers).
A depth of 2 to 4 inches is commonly recommended for most garden beds, deep enough to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, without piling mulch so high it smothers plant roots or traps excess moisture against stems and trunks.
For small areas, bagged mulch (typically 2 cubic feet per bag) is convenient. For larger areas, bulk mulch delivered by the cubic yard is usually significantly cheaper per unit of coverage, this calculator shows both figures so you can compare.
The volume calculation is the same regardless of mulch type (wood chips, bark, rubber, etc.), since it's based on area and depth, not material density. However, different mulch types settle and decompose at different rates, affecting how often you'll need to replenish it.
For a rough estimate, most people calculate mulch for the full bed area and accept a small amount of surplus, since precisely subtracting plant footprints is rarely worth the extra effort for typical garden beds.
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