Mulch for a 3×6 area

0.17 cubic yards (3 bags)

of mulch for 18 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 4.5 cu ft, or 3 bags of 2 cu ft.

A 3×6 foot area is 18 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 3×6 by depth

DepthCubic yardsCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
1 in0.061.511
2 in0.11321
3 in0.174.532
4 in0.22632
6 in0.33953

How it’s worked out

  1. 6 × 3 = 18 sq ft.
  2. 18 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 4.5 cu ft.
  3. 4.5 ÷ 27 = 0.167 cu yd, or 4.5 ÷ 2 = 3 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).

Change the numbers

Mulch needed

0.17 cubic yards

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

Area18 sq ft
Cubic yards0.17 (about $40 bulk)
Cubic feet4.5
2 cu ft bags3 (about $12)
3 cu ft bags2

Other bed sizes

Questions

How much mulch do I need for a 3×6 area?
0.17 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 3 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 0.11 yards (2 bags).
How many bags of mulch for 3×6?
3 bags of 2 cu ft or 2 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 3×6?
Bagged: about $12 for 3 bags. Bulk: about $40 for 0.17 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.

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