Compare equal volumes, then delivery
A 10-by-10 bed at a selected depth of 3 inches needs 25 cu ft before an allowance. That is 13 two-cubic-foot bags or 17 one-and-a-half-cubic-foot bags after rounding. Check the bag label: pack volumes differ.
When bulk can cost more
For an illustrative quote, 13 bags at $4 cost $52. One cubic yard at $35 plus $40 delivery costs $75. In that scenario bags cost $23 less, despite the lower bulk material price. These are worked-example prices, not a retailer quote.
Before you order
Choose the mulch type and depth for your planting, measure separate beds individually, and ask where a bulk load will be left. Confirm whether the supplier sells by cubic yard, scoop or another unit.
Explore the delivery break-even calculation · Convert bags to cubic yards
Show the original worked calculation
Area = 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft Depth = 3 in Volume = 100 × (3 ÷ 12) = 25 cu ft SKU = Vigoro 2 cu ft (HD 52050196 / 205606287) Spec table = Bag Capacity 2 cu ft Bags exact = 25 ÷ 2 = 12.5 → buy 13 Body-copy check = 100 ÷ 8 sq ft at 3 in = 12.5 → buy 13 (listing body copy, not spec table) Optional 10% = 12.5 × 1.10 = 13.75 → buy 14 (labelled, not ASTM) Earthgro 1.5 = 25 ÷ 1.5 = 16.667 → buy 17 Cost = $ not entered
Formulas and manufacturer sources · Dated price references
Convert a cubic yard into whole bags
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. With 2-cubic-foot bags, 27 ÷ 2 = 13.5 bags; buying 14 gives 28 cubic feet. With 1.5-cubic-foot bags, 27 ÷ 1.5 = 18 bags exactly. Use bag volume, not bag weight, for this conversion.
For a 10 × 10-foot bed at a chosen 3-inch depth, volume is 100 × (3 ÷ 12) = 25 cubic feet. That rounds to 13 two-cubic-foot bags or 17 one-and-a-half-cubic-foot bags. These depths illustrate the calculation; select a suitable depth for the material and planting.