Here's the fast way to figure it out, and what it'll cost once you know.
Formula: square feet × desired depth (in inches) ÷ 324 = cubic yards needed
Worked example: A 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches deep needs about 4.6 cubic yards of mulch.
Most beds want 2–3 inches of mulch. Deeper isn't better — too much mulch can actually smother plant roots.
Installed mulch (materials plus labor) typically runs $77 to $94 per cubic yard. Bagged mulch from a home center is more per yard than bulk delivery, but bulk usually has a delivery minimum — worth checking before you commit to bulk on a small job.
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Get the Complete SystemHow many bags of mulch equal a cubic yard?
A standard 2 cubic foot bag — you need roughly 13–14 bags to equal one cubic yard.
How deep should mulch be?
2–3 inches for most beds. Go deeper around trees only up to about 3–4 inches, and keep it off the trunk itself.
How much does a yard of mulch cost installed?
Expect $77–$94 per cubic yard installed in 2026, materials and labor combined — regional pricing varies.