How Much Is a Yard of Mulch?
Bulk wood mulch often costs about $25–$100 per cubic yard for material alone, depending on the type, supplier, and location. Premium materials can cost more. Delivery and installation are extra.
What Is a Cubic Yard of Mulch?
A cubic yard is a volume measurement equal to 27 cubic feet - the unit bulk mulch suppliers typically sell and price by. Depth affects how far one cubic yard goes: at 2 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft; at 3 inches deep, it covers about 108 sq ft.
Bulk Mulch Price Examples by Material
| Material | Price example per cubic yard | Source basis | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural / undyed wood | About $20–$30 | This Old House + GotMulchLI (local example) | Lower-cost natural wood examples; local supplier pricing can fall below national guide examples. |
| Dyed / colored wood | About $29–$40 | This Old House + GotMulchLI (local examples) | Color and supplier affect price; these are examples, not a national average. |
| Shredded hardwood | About $45 | HomeAdvisor | Guide example for shredded hardwood; supplier pricing varies. |
| Cedar | About $100–$110 | This Old House + HomeAdvisor | Premium wood mulch example; commonly above basic pine or hardwood examples. |
| Cypress | About $115 | HomeAdvisor | National cost-guide example; local supplier prices can differ substantially. |
Why Mulch Prices Vary
Bulk mulch prices vary by material and type, by supplier, by location, and by how much you order. Delivery is typically priced separately from the material itself, and delivery policies also vary by supplier - so the same material can list for a different price from one supplier or region to the next.
Bulk vs. Bagged Mulch
Bulk mulch is sold and priced by the cubic yard, while bagged mulch is sold and priced per bag. Because bag sizes and product volumes differ by brand and retailer, the cubic-yard-equivalent cost of buying mulch by the bag can differ substantially from a supplier's bulk price for the same material. Compare equivalent volumes, not just sticker prices, before deciding between bulk and bagged.
Delivery Costs
The price examples on this page are for material only and do not include delivery. Delivery policies and fees vary by supplier, by distance, and by order size - some suppliers charge a flat fee, some use distance-based pricing, and some have order minimums. Verify delivery cost and terms directly with your supplier before ordering.
What This Price Doesn't Include
The material-only price examples above don't include delivery, installation, or labor. If you want an estimate of the full installed cost of a mulch project - including your own labor rate and any delivery, bed preparation, edging, or old-mulch-removal costs - use the Mulch Installation Cost Calculator, linked below. If you first need to figure out how much mulch a project requires, MulchVolume's mulch calculator can help with that separately.
Sources & Pricing Notes
The price examples above are observed listed prices and cost-guide examples reviewed from the sources below, not a MulchVolume survey or a live price feed. Prices checked: August 2026.
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