Mulch for a 5×5 area

0.23 cubic yards (4 bags)

of mulch for 25 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 6.3 cu ft, or 4 bags of 2 cu ft.

A 5×5 foot area is 25 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 5×5 by depth

DepthCubic yardsCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
1 in0.082.121
2 in0.154.232
3 in0.236.343
4 in0.318.353
6 in0.4612.575

How it’s worked out

  1. 5 × 5 = 25 sq ft.
  2. 25 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 6.25 cu ft.
  3. 6.25 ÷ 27 = 0.231 cu yd, or 6.25 ÷ 2 = 4 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).

Change the numbers

Mulch needed

0.23 cubic yards

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

Area25 sq ft
Cubic yards0.23 (about $40 bulk)
Cubic feet6.3
2 cu ft bags4 (about $16)
3 cu ft bags3

Other bed sizes

Questions

How much mulch do I need for a 5×5 area?
0.23 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 4 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 0.15 yards (3 bags).
How many bags of mulch for 5×5?
4 bags of 2 cu ft or 3 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 5×5?
Bagged: about $16 for 4 bags. Bulk: about $40 for 0.23 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.

Related calculators