Free tool
Mulch & Topsoil Calculator
Size your beds, pick a depth, and get cubic yards, bag count and what bulk delivery should cost in the Twin Cities.
Free tool
Mulch & Topsoil Calculator
| Bed area | 180 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Volume needed | 1.67 cubic yards |
| Order (rounded up) | 2 cubic yards |
| 2 cu ft bags13.5 bags = 1 cubic yard. | 23 bags |
| 3 cu ft bags | 15 bags |
| Coverage check | 1 yd³ covers 108 sq ft at 3" |
Delivered + spread, Twin Cities
$165 – $280
A ballpark, not a bid. Access, condition, permits and soil move the real number. Send it over and we'll price your actual project for free.
Bulk beats bags past two yards
One cubic yard equals 13.5 of the standard 2 cubic foot bags. At big-box bag pricing, three yards of mulch runs well past what a bulk load costs delivered — and you skip 40 trips from the car to the beds. The crossover point is roughly two yards.
If you can't take a bulk pile on the driveway, split the difference: bulk for the big beds, bags for the tight spots you'd otherwise wheelbarrow across the lawn.
Depth matters more than brand
Three inches is the number. Less than two inches and weeds push straight through; more than four inches around trunks and stems holds moisture against the bark and invites rot and voles. Never pile mulch against a trunk — the volcano look kills more Minnesota trees than most people realize.
Refreshing an existing bed usually only needs two inches. Rake and fluff what's already there first; a lot of beds don't need new material at all, just aeration and an edge.
Common questions
- How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
- 13.5 bags at 2 cubic feet per bag, or 9 bags at 3 cubic feet.
- How much area does a yard of mulch cover?
- A cubic yard covers 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, and 81 sq ft at 4 inches.
- When should I mulch in Minnesota?
- Late April into May, once the soil has warmed. Mulching over still-frozen ground traps cold and delays root growth. A second light top-up in fall protects perennials through the freeze-thaw cycle.
- Is rock cheaper than mulch?
- Not up front — rock costs roughly twice as much per yard and needs fabric under it. It wins on a 10-year horizon because you're not re-buying it annually, but it radiates heat and is miserable to remove if you change your mind.