You need about 4.6 cubic yards of mulch to cover 500 square feet at the standard 3-inch depth — order 5 yards. The formula is simple: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. Rounding up to the next half yard beats running short with two beds left to go, and 5 yards is the classic Boston-area spring order.
500 sq ft at common depths
| Depth | Math | Order |
|---|---|---|
| 2" refresh on existing beds | 3.1 yd | 3.5 yd |
| 3" standard coverage | 4.6 yd | 5 yd |
| 4" heavy first layer | 6.2 yd | 6.5 yd |
Any of these fits one truck — mulch ships up to 10 cubic yards per load. Check your own numbers with the material calculator, then pick a color from the bulk mulch collection.
