Mulch Needed for 800 square feet at 3 inches Deep
How much mulch do I need for 800 square feet?
Answer
That is 200 cubic feet, or 100 bags of 2 cubic feet. In bulk, order 8.16 cubic yards to allow 10% for waste.
Mulching 800 square feet to 3 inches deep takes 7.41 cubic yards — 200 cubic feet, or 100 bags of 2 cubic feet. At this depth one cubic yard covers 108 square feet.
How the Volume Is Worked Out
The 324 is exact, not a fudge factor: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so spread one inch thick it covers 27 × 12 = 324 square feet. No density is involved, which is why the volume is the part of this answer that is exact — the weight further down is not.
800 square feet × 3 inches
=7.41 cubic yards
(200 cubic feet = 100 bags)
800 square feet at Other Depths
Depth is an input, and every row below is a page of its own — set it in the form or follow a link. Extension services recommend 2–4 inches of organic mulch; below 2 inches weeds come through, and above 4 inches water and air stop reaching the roots.
| Depth | Mulch | Cubic feet | Bags | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 2.47 cubic yards | 66.67 cubic feet | 34 bags | 324 square feet |
| 2 inches | 4.94 cubic yards | 133.33 cubic feet | 67 bags | 162 square feet |
| 3 inches | 7.41 cubic yards | 200 cubic feet | 100 bags | 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | 9.88 cubic yards | 266.67 cubic feet | 134 bags | 81 square feet |
| 6 inches | 14.81 cubic yards | 400 cubic feet | 200 bags | 54 square feet |
What This Much Mulch Weighs
7.41 cubic yards of dry bark or wood chips weighs roughly 2,964–5,928 lbs — 1.48–2.96 tons — from a typical 400–800 lbs per cubic yard.
Related Calculations
See Also
- Gravel Calculator - Area to cubic yards, tons and coverage
- Topsoil Calculator - Cubic yards, weight and coverage for any area
- Sand Calculator - Cubic yards, tons and coverage for any area
- Square Footage Calculator - Width × length in feet to square feet

Mulch by Area at 3 inches Deep
| Area | Mulch needed | Cubic feet | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 square feet | 0.28 cubic yards | 7.5 cubic feet | 4 bags |
| 50 square feet | 0.46 cubic yards | 12.5 cubic feet | 7 bags |
| 60 square feet | 0.56 cubic yards | 15 cubic feet | 8 bags |
| 80 square feet | 0.74 cubic yards | 20 cubic feet | 10 bags |
| 100 square feet | 0.93 cubic yards | 25 cubic feet | 13 bags |
| 120 square feet | 1.11 cubic yards | 30 cubic feet | 15 bags |
| 150 square feet | 1.39 cubic yards | 37.5 cubic feet | 19 bags |
| 160 square feet | 1.48 cubic yards | 40 cubic feet | 20 bags |
| 200 square feet | 1.85 cubic yards | 50 cubic feet | 25 bags |
| 250 square feet | 2.31 cubic yards | 62.5 cubic feet | 32 bags |
| 300 square feet | 2.78 cubic yards | 75 cubic feet | 38 bags |
| 400 square feet | 3.7 cubic yards | 100 cubic feet | 50 bags |
| 500 square feet | 4.63 cubic yards | 125 cubic feet | 63 bags |
| 600 square feet | 5.56 cubic yards | 150 cubic feet | 75 bags |
| 800 square feet | 7.41 cubic yards | 200 cubic feet | 100 bags |
| 900 square feet | 8.33 cubic yards | 225 cubic feet | 113 bags |
| 1,000 square feet | 9.26 cubic yards | 250 cubic feet | 125 bags |
| 1,200 square feet | 11.11 cubic yards | 300 cubic feet | 150 bags |
| 1,500 square feet | 13.89 cubic yards | 375 cubic feet | 188 bags |
| 2,000 square feet | 18.52 cubic yards | 500 cubic feet | 250 bags |