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Mulch Bed Calculator · Free calculator

24x30 Mulch Bed Calculator

Mulching a 24' × 30' bed (720 sq ft) 3" deep takes 7.00 cubic yards — 95 bags of 2 cu ft mulch with 5% extra. Here's 2", 3" and 4" depth, bag vs bulk cost and the fabric and edging for 24x30.

Quick answer

3" deep (standard)
7.00 yd³
2 cu ft bags @ 3"
95
2 cu ft bags @ 2"
63
Bags cost @ 3"
$380
Bulk cost @ 3"
$280
Edging
108 LF

▍Mulch Calculator

Material
ft
in
ft
in
in
Waste Factor
$
L = 30' 0"W = 24' 0"D = 3"
Cubic Yards
7.00yd³
incl. 5% waste · Bulk delivery: order 7.00 yd³
Cubic Feet
189.00ft³
Area
720.0sq ft
Weight
2.10tons
Weight
4,200lbs
Mulch bags needed
  • 2 cu ft bag (2 ft³ yield)95

Mulch for a 24x30 bed by depth

720 sq ft, 5% extra. Bags ~$4.00 (2 cu ft), bulk ~$40/yd³.

DepthUseCubic yards2 cu ft bagsBags $Bulk $Weight
2"Refresh existing bed4.67 yd³63$252$1902,800 lbs
3"Standard (weed control)7.00 yd³95$380$2804,200 lbs
4"New bed / heavy weeds9.33 yd³126$504$3805,600 lbs

Bed prep for 24x30

ItemQuantityNotes
Landscape fabric (3' × 50' rolls)6792 sq ft incl. 10% overlap
Bed edging (20' sections)6108 LF perimeter
Fabric staples80~1 per 9 sq ft
Pickup loads (≈2.5 yd³)3bulk mulch @ 3"

How the math works

  1. Area: 30 ft × 24 ft = 720 sq ft
  2. Volume @ 3": 720 × (3 ÷ 12) = 180.00 cu ft
  3. Add 5%: 180.00 × 1.05 = 189.00 cu ft
  4. Cubic yards: 189.00 ÷ 27 = 7.00 yd³
  5. Bags: 189.00 ÷ 2 cu ft = 95 bags

Trade pro tips

  • 7.00 yd³ at 3" — bulk delivery will be cheaper than bags.
  • Keep mulch 2"–3" away from trunks and siding — no "mulch volcanoes".
  • Refreshing an existing bed usually only needs 1"–2" on top.
  • One cubic yard of bulk mulch = 13.5 two-cu-ft bags.
  • A half-ton pickup carries 2–3 yd³ of mulch; a full-size bed with sides can take about 3.

Frequently asked questions

How many bags of mulch do I need for a 24x30 area?

At 3" deep, 95 bags of 2 cu ft mulch. At 2": 63 bags. At 4": 126 bags. All include 5% extra for 720 sq ft.

How many yards of mulch for 24x30?

2": 4.67 yd³; 3": 7.00 yd³; 4": 9.33 yd³. Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard; 1 yd³ = 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.

How much does it cost to mulch a 24x30 bed?

At 3": about $380 in bags or $280 in bulk before delivery. Bulk is usually cheaper at this size.

How much does the mulch for 24x30 weigh?

About 4,200 lbs at 3" (mulch runs 400–800 lbs per yd³ depending on moisture). That's 2.8 half-ton pickup loads of bulk mulch.