A 20×20 play area — 400 sq ft — needs about 11–15 cubic yards of playground mulch at the commonly installed 9–12 inch depth. Depth is the entire point of playground surfacing: it's engineered wood fiber made to cushion falls, and a thin decorative layer doesn't do that job. See the product page for safety details. Have the pile dropped close to the play area — 11–15 yards is a serious afternoon of wheelbarrow work.
The math
- 400 sq ft × 9" ÷ 324 = 11.1 cubic yards
- 400 sq ft × 12" ÷ 324 = 14.8 cubic yards
- Mulch rides up to 10 yards per truck — plan on two loads
Order Playground Mulch by the yard, and run your own play-area dimensions through the material calculator.
