What You Should Know Before Buying a Pallet of Mulch

Tips on how much mulch you’re getting, how much you need, and how to use it

Co-authored by Steve Masley and Christopher M. Osborne, PhD

Last Updated: February 23, 2023 References

How many bags of mulch are on a pallet?

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How many bags of mulch equal a yard?

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How many bags of mulch do I need?

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How much does a pallet of mulch weigh?

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Mulching Advice

Purchasing an entire pallet of bagged mulch can definitely save you money versus buying individual bags. But how many bags are on the pallet? And just how many bags do you need for your project? We can help you answer those questions, plus we’ve thrown in some mulching advice for your landscaping project. So, instead of trying to count mulch bags on a pallet, count on us!

Things You Should Know

Expect to get about 65-70 average-size bags of mulch on a standard-size pallet—but confirm this with the seller, because definitions of a “full pallet” vary widely.
Plan to use about 13 bags of 2 cu ft (0.057 m³) mulch for 100 sq ft (9.3 m²) of coverage at a 3 in (7.6 cm) depth.
Add mulch 1-2 times per year for the best results, but make sure to keep mulch from piling up against the bases of trees and other plants.

Section 1 of 5:

How many bags of mulch are on a pallet?

A standard pallet usually holds 65-70 average-size bags of mulch. Unfortunately there isn’t a universal size for either pallets or mulch bags, but the most common pallet is 40 in × 48 in (100 cm × 120 cm) and the most common volume for a bag of mulch is 2 cu ft (0.057 m³). Using these common parameters, 65-70 bags per pallet is a good estimate. That said, always ask the retailer before buying, because one company might define a “full pallet” as containing nearly 80 bags,^{[1]
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- To add another complication here, not all mulch bags have a 2 cu ft (0.057 m³) volume—you may be dealing with 1.5 cu ft (0.042 m³), 2.8 cu ft (0.079 m³), or 3 cu ft (0.085 m³) bags. So check carefully before buying!

Section 2 of 5:

How many bags of mulch equal a yard?

You’ll need to buy 14 standard bags of mulch to get 1 cu yd (0.76 m³). When people talk about a “yard” of mulch, they mean a volume of 1 cu yd (0.76 m³). Here’s a quick rundown of the math used to get the answer of 14 bags:^{[3]
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- The most common mulch bag volume is 2 cu ft (0.057 m³).
- 27 cu ft (0.76 m³) equals 1 cu yd (0.76 m³).
- 27 cu ft (0.76 m³) / 2 cu ft (0.057 m³) = 13.5 (So technically you only need 13 + 1/2 bags of mulch—but good luck buying a half bag!)

Section 3 of 5:

How many bags of mulch do I need?

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Use an online mulch calculator to simplify the process. If you’d rather do more mulching and less math, find a good online mulch calculator. Simply input the area you plan to cover (in square feet or square meters) and your intended mulch depth (in inches or centimeters), then let the calculator determine how many bags you’ll need.
- For example, if you input 210 sq ft (20 m²) at 3 in (7.6 cm), a mulch calculator will tell you to buy 26.3 [2 cu ft (0.057 m³)] bags. (But buy 27 or, better yet, 28 to be sure you have enough mulch!)
- If you’re dealing with an irregularly-shaped space that makes it hard to measure the area, do your best to estimate the area to be covered. An educational site that helps students estimate the area of irregular shapes can be a really helpful resource.
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Estimate 13.5 bags per 100 sq ft (9.3 m²) to do the calculations yourself. The landscaper’s rule of thumb is to estimate 1 cu yd (0.76 m³) of mulch—or 13.5 [2 cu ft (0.057 m³)] bags—for every 100 sq ft (9.3 m²) at a depth of 3 in (7.6 cm). So use that as the baseline for your calculations.^{[4]
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- For example, a 6 ft × 8 ft (1.8 m × 2.4 m) planting bed equals 48 sq ft (4.5 m²). So you’ll need 0.48 cu yd (0.37 m³) of mulch, or about 7 standard bags (0.48 x 13.5 = 6.48), to cover it.
- For a deeper layer than the typical 3 in (7.6 cm), measure all three elements (length, width, and depth) in feet to get a cubic footage estimate, then convert it to cubic yards by dividing by 27 (or multiply by 0.000001 to convert from cubic centimeters to cubic meters). For example:
  - 8 ft (L) x 6 ft (W) x 0.5 ft (D) = 24 cubic feet; 24 / 27 = 0.89 cubic yards; 13.5 x 0.89 = 12 standard bags of mulch.
- What if you want to mulch a circular area, like around a tree? Measure the radius (half the diameter), then use the formula $A=\pi r^{2}$ $A=\pi r^{2}$ to get the area:
  - If r = 4 ft (1.2 m), A = 3.14 x 16 = 50.24 sq ft (4.667 m²)

Section 4 of 5:

How much does a pallet of mulch weigh?

It varies greatly, but you can very roughly estimate 2,300 lb (1,000 kg). A bone-dry 2 cu ft (0.057 m³) bag of mulch usually weighs around 20 lb (9.1 kg), but it can weigh 50 lb (23 kg) if the mulch is soaking wet from rain seeping into the bag. So here’s a very general estimate of the weight of a mulch pallet:^{[5]
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- 1 bag = 35 lb (16 kg)
- 65 bags per pallet = 65 x 35 = 2,275 lb (1,032 kg)
- Standard wood pallet = 40 lb (18 kg)
- Total = 2,315 lb (1,050 kg)
- Safety Note: While wood pallets are usually rated to hold up to 4,600 lb (2,100 kg), some organizations set lower limits, such as 2,200 lb (1,000 kg).^{[6]
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Section 5 of 5:

Mulching Advice

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Mulch in late spring to add nutrients and in late fall to protect plants. Mulching doesn’t just limit weeds and hold in moisture—it also adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. Additionally, when the weather turns cold, mulch serves as a sort of blanket to moderate rapid temperature changes, which can be harmful to your plants.^{[7]
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- To get the most out of the nutrients mulch provides, add a 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) layer when your plants are just beginning their robust growth period—usually in late spring or early summer.
- Add about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) of mulch after the growing season is over and the cold weather begins to arrive to provide your plants with a blanket.
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Refresh your mulch beds 1-2 times per year. Any type of mulch made of organic material—wood, straw, leaves, etc.—naturally decomposes over time, so you’ll just end up with more dirt if you don’t refresh the mulch bed. Annual mulching is usually sufficient to keep the bed looking good year-round. Alternatively, add mulch in late spring for nutrients and late fall for temperature regulation.^{[8]
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- You don’t need to remove the old mulch—just add a layer of new mulch on top.
- Mulches made of non-organic materials—like rubber mulch—will last much longer, as will landscaping alternatives like stone and gravel.
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Leave a 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) gap when mulching around a tree trunk. Avoid the “mulch volcano” of built-up mulch right against the base of a tree, shrub, or other plant. Instead, when mulching around a tree or other plant, maintain a small ring of open air around the base to allow for proper drainage and airflow. Your plants will thank you!^{[9]
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- A “mulch volcano” holds moisture right up against the base of the plant, which invites fungal growth and attracts destructive insects. It also inhibits oxygen flow to the root system.
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Make your own mulch out of things like leaves and grass clippings. Buying bagged mulch is definitely convenient, but making your own mulch is a great way to save some money and repurpose yard waste. For the best of both worlds, blend together bagged mulch with some of your homemade stuff.
- To make leaf mulch, shred up a pile of leaves by running your lawnmower over it. If desired, sift out any larger pieces through a piece of wire fencing.
- Add grass clippings or even finely-shredded paper to your leaf mulch.
- Rent a wood chipper to turn yard waste like twigs and small branches into mulch.^{[10]
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