Mulch for a 3×5 area

0.14 cubic yards (2 bags)

of mulch for 15 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 3.8 cu ft, or 2 bags of 2 cu ft.

A 3×5 foot area is 15 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 3×5 by depth

DepthCubic yardsCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
1 in0.051.311
2 in0.092.521
3 in0.143.822
4 in0.19532
6 in0.287.543

How it’s worked out

  1. 5 × 3 = 15 sq ft.
  2. 15 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 3.75 cu ft.
  3. 3.75 ÷ 27 = 0.139 cu yd, or 3.75 ÷ 2 = 2 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).

Change the numbers

Mulch needed

0.14 cubic yards

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

Area15 sq ft
Cubic yards0.14 (about $40 bulk)
Cubic feet3.8
2 cu ft bags2 (about $8)
3 cu ft bags2

Other bed sizes

Questions

How much mulch do I need for a 3×5 area?
0.14 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 2 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 0.09 yards (2 bags).
How many bags of mulch for 3×5?
2 bags of 2 cu ft or 2 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 3×5?
Bagged: about $8 for 2 bags. Bulk: about $40 for 0.14 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.

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