Mulch for a 3×15 area

0.42 cubic yards (6 bags)

of mulch for 45 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 11.3 cu ft, or 6 bags of 2 cu ft.

A 3×15 foot area is 45 square feet. Most garden beds need 2 to 3 inches of mulch; a fresh bed or a weedy one benefits from 3 to 4 inches.

Mulch for 3×15 by depth

DepthCubic yardsCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
1 in0.143.822
2 in0.287.543
3 in0.4211.364
4 in0.561585
6 in0.8322.5128

How it’s worked out

  1. 15 × 3 = 45 sq ft.
  2. 45 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 11.25 cu ft.
  3. 11.25 ÷ 27 = 0.417 cu yd, or 11.25 ÷ 2 = 6 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).

Change the numbers

Mulch needed

0.42 cubic yards

6 bags of 2 cu ft, or 4 bags of 3 cu ft.

Area45 sq ft
Cubic yards0.42 (about $40 bulk)
Cubic feet11.3
2 cu ft bags6 (about $24)
3 cu ft bags4

Other bed sizes

Questions

How much mulch do I need for a 3×15 area?
0.42 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 6 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 0.28 yards (4 bags).
How many bags of mulch for 3×15?
6 bags of 2 cu ft or 4 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 3×15?
Bagged: about $24 for 6 bags. Bulk: about $40 for 0.42 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.

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