Mulch Reference

Mulch for 500 Square Feet

How much mulch you need to cover 500 square feet, in cubic yards and bags.

Mulch for 500 sq ft

At 3 inches deep, with a 5 percent allowance.

Cubic yards
4.86cu yd
2 cu ft bags
66
At 2 in deep
3.24cu yd
cubic yards = 500 × (3 / 12) ÷ 27 × 1.05 = 4.86 cu yd

That is about 46.5 m², roughly 3.72 m³ of mulch at 8 cm deep.

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About this estimate

500 square feet at a 3 inch depth works out to about 4.63 cubic yards before the small allowance. Two to three inches is the usual range for beds. One cubic yard of mulch covers 324 square feet at one inch.

Spreading mulch? A wide landscape rake levels a bed in a fraction of the time.

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Common questions

How much mulch for 500 square feet?

At 3 inches deep, 500 square feet needs about 4.86 cubic yards, roughly 66 of the 2 cubic foot bags. At 2 inches it is about 3.24 cubic yards.

Bags or bulk for this much mulch?

Bagged mulch suits small beds. Past roughly two cubic yards, bulk delivery is usually cheaper, since about 13.5 bags equal one cubic yard.
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