How this calculator works
Mulch math trips people up because stores sell bags and landscapers quote yards. This tool speaks both languages.
Yards, bags, and the 3-inch rule
A cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches — and a yard is roughly 13–14 of the standard 2-cubic-foot bags. The calculator shows both numbers, because the bulk-vs-bag decision is mostly about scale: past a few yards, bulk delivery beats bag-hauling on price and on your back.
What you’re really paying for
The mulch itself is cheap; the delivery trip and the spreading labor are where a hired job’s money goes. Spreading is honest, light work — which is why mulch is one of the best DIY-savings projects in the yard. Flip the toggle to see the difference; the gap is the price of your Saturday.
Choosing a type
Shredded hardwood is the default for a reason — cheap, tidy, feeds the soil as it breaks down. Dyed mulches hold their color longer. Cedar and cypress resist insects and decay a little better. Rubber lasts about ten years and never feeds the soil — best under play sets, not in planting beds. Refreshing beds around new sod or rock? See the sod calculator and landscape rock calculator.
2026 bulk mulch price per cubic yard
Bulk yard pricing. The bag math — a cubic yard is roughly 13–14 of the standard 2-cu-ft bags — usually costs 1.5–2× more.
| Option | Low (per cubic yard) | High (per cubic yard) | Typical (per cubic yard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shredded hardwood | $25 | $55 | $40 |
| Dyed (black/brown/red) | $30 | $80 | $50 |
| Cedar / cypress | $45 | $90 | $62 |
| Rubber mulch | $80 | $150 | $115 |
Estimated cost by state
Typical installed range for covering 200 sq ft of beds with 3 inches of hardwood mulch, delivered and spread, adjusted by each state's construction cost index. Your actual project scales with the size and options you enter above.
| State | Estimated low | Estimated high |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $125 | $308 |
| Alaska | $167 | $412 |
| Arizona | $139 | $344 |
| Arkansas | $128 | $315 |
| California | $162 | $402 |
| Colorado | $142 | $351 |
| Connecticut | $155 | $384 |
| Delaware | $139 | $344 |
| District of Columbia | $145 | $359 |
| Florida | $135 | $333 |
| Georgia | $131 | $323 |
| Hawaii | $186 | $459 |
| Idaho | $141 | $348 |
| Illinois | $167 | $412 |
| Indiana | $148 | $366 |
| Iowa | $145 | $359 |
| Kansas | $136 | $337 |
| Kentucky | $136 | $337 |
| Louisiana | $132 | $326 |
| Maine | $139 | $344 |
| Maryland | $139 | $344 |
| Massachusetts | $171 | $423 |
| Michigan | $146 | $362 |
| Minnesota | $162 | $402 |
| Mississippi | $129 | $319 |
| Missouri | $157 | $387 |
| Montana | $145 | $359 |
| Nebraska | $139 | $344 |
| Nevada | $148 | $366 |
| New Hampshire | $145 | $359 |
| New Jersey | $171 | $423 |
| New Mexico | $131 | $323 |
| New York | $160 | $394 |
| North Carolina | $135 | $333 |
| North Dakota | $146 | $362 |
| Ohio | $154 | $380 |
| Oklahoma | $133 | $330 |
| Oregon | $151 | $373 |
| Pennsylvania | $148 | $366 |
| Rhode Island | $158 | $391 |
| South Carolina | $136 | $337 |
| South Dakota | $135 | $333 |
| Tennessee | $136 | $337 |
| Texas | $132 | $326 |
| Utah | $141 | $348 |
| Vermont | $144 | $355 |
| Virginia | $133 | $330 |
| Washington | $158 | $391 |
| West Virginia | $136 | $337 |
| Wisconsin | $154 | $380 |
| Wyoming | $136 | $337 |
Frequently asked questions
How much mulch do I need?
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Multiply your bed area by depth, and the calculator converts to cubic yards and the equivalent bag count, so you can compare bulk delivery against store bags.
How much does mulch cost in 2026?
Bulk shredded hardwood runs about $25–$55 per cubic yard, dyed mulch $30–$80, cedar or cypress $45–$90, and rubber mulch $80–$150. Delivery adds $50–$140 per trip, and professional spreading roughly $25–$60 per yard on top.
How deep should mulch be?
Two to three inches is the sweet spot — enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture. Piling it deeper than four inches (or volcano-mulching against trunks) suffocates roots and invites rot and pests. Pull mulch a few inches back from stems and trunks.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper?
Bulk wins on price almost every time — bagged works out to roughly 1.5–2× more per yard. Bags earn their premium on small beds, when you need to carry mulch through a house, or when a driveway drop isn't possible.
How often does mulch need replacing?
Wood mulches break down and fade — plan on topping up about an inch every year or doing a full refresh every 2–3 years. Rubber mulch lasts around a decade, which is how it justifies its price, though it doesn't feed the soil like wood does.
Disclaimer: Estimates are for planning only and reflect typical ranges, not quotes. Actual costs vary with site conditions, design complexity, local permits, and contractor availability. Pricing approach: national averages cross-referenced from public cost guides, adjusted by a state construction cost index — see our methodology.
Price data sources: Lawn Love, mulch cost 2026 — shredded hardwood ~$49/cu yd, cedar ~$110, cypress ~$135, rubber ~$100; dyed black $40–$120, brown $27–$107, red $77–$107; delivery $50–$150; spreading labor $22–$55 per cubic yard: https://lawnlove.com/blog/mulch-cost/; LawnStarter, mulch cost 2026 — bulk mulch $30–$135 per cubic yard; shredded hardwood $40–$70, cedar ~$100, cypress ~$110, rubber $80–$140 per cubic yard installed; delivery $70–$140; professional installation $77–$94 per cubic yard: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/cost/mulch-price/; HomeGuide, mulch prices 2026 — bulk mulch by type per cubic yard, delivery and per-yard installation labor: https://homeguide.com/costs/mulch-prices; Lowe's / Home Depot bagged mulch pricing (2-cu-ft bags, $3.25–$6.50 per bag) versus bulk landscape-yard pricing. Last updated: September 2026.