Mulch for a 5×50 area

2.31 cubic yards (32 bags)

of mulch for 250 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 62.5 cu ft, or 32 bags of 2 cu ft.

A 5×50 foot area is 250 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 5×50 by depth

DepthCubic yardsCubic feet2 cu ft bags3 cu ft bags
1 in0.7720.8117
2 in1.5441.72114
3 in2.3162.53221
4 in3.0983.34228
6 in4.631256342

How it’s worked out

  1. 50 × 5 = 250 sq ft.
  2. 250 × 3 in ÷ 12 = 62.5 cu ft.
  3. 62.5 ÷ 27 = 2.315 cu yd, or 62.5 ÷ 2 = 32 bags of 2 cu ft (rounded up).

Change the numbers

Mulch needed

2.31 cubic yards

32 bags of 2 cu ft, or 21 bags of 3 cu ft.

Area250 sq ft
Cubic yards2.31 (about $93 bulk)
Cubic feet62.5
2 cu ft bags32 (about $128)
3 cu ft bags21

Other bed sizes

Questions

How much mulch do I need for a 5×50 area?
2.31 cubic yards at 3 inches deep, or 32 bags of 2 cu ft. At 2 inches it is 1.54 yards (21 bags).
How many bags of mulch for 5×50?
32 bags of 2 cu ft or 21 bags of 3 cu ft at 3 inches deep.
Is bulk or bagged mulch cheaper for 5×50?
Bagged: about $128 for 32 bags. Bulk: about $93 for 2.31 yards, plus delivery. Bulk usually wins above 2 or 3 yards.

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