Mulch for a 40×40 area
14.81 cubic yards (200 bags)
of mulch for 1600 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 400 cu ft, or 200 bags of 2 cu ft.
A 40×40 foot area is 1600 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 40×40 by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Cubic feet | 2 cu ft bags | 3 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 4.94 | 133.3 | 67 | 45 |
| 2 in | 9.88 | 266.7 | 134 | 89 |
| 3 in | 14.81 | 400 | 200 | 134 |
| 4 in | 19.75 | 533.3 | 267 | 178 |
| 6 in | 29.63 | 800 | 400 | 267 |
How it’s worked out
- 40 × 40 = 1600 sq ft.
- 1600 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 400 cu ft.
- 400 ÷ 27 = 14.815 cu yd, or 400 ÷ 2 = 200 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).
Change the numbers
Other bed sizes
- 30×40 area
- 40×50 area
- 25×40 area
- 20×40 area
- 15×40 area
- 12×40 area
- 10×40 area
- 8×40 area
- 6×40 area
- 5×40 area
- 4×40 area
- 3×40 area
Questions
- How much mulch do I need for a 40×40 area?
- 14.81 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 200 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 9.88 yards (134 bags).
- How many bags of mulch for 40×40?
- 200 bags of 2 cu ft or 134 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
- Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 40×40?
- Bagged: about $800 for 200 bags. Bulk: about $593 for 14.81 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.