Mulch is sold by the cubic yard (bulk) or in 2-cubic-foot bags. Estimate by bed area and how deep you want it.
Coverage
One cubic yard covers about 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep — roughly 13 to 14 of the 2-cubic-foot bags. Deeper beds and wider borders scale from there.
The method
Measure each bed (length × width) for square footage, pick your depth (2–3 inches for annual top-ups, 3–4 inches for weed control), then convert to yards or bags.
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft bed (200 sq ft) at 3 inches needs about 1.85 cubic yards, or roughly 25 bags.
Bulk vs bags
Bulk is cheaper per yard once you pass about 8–10 bags — bags are easier for small beds and tight access.
Open the mulch calculator → for yards and bags at your chosen depth.