Mulch calculator / Complete order options
Bulk + Bags Mulch Order Calculator
Your measured volume may fall between bulk order steps. See whether a valid bulk load and a few whole bags beat buying everything by one route.
Lowest calculated subtotal
208.00in your entered currency
3 cu yd bulk + 3 whole 2-cu-ft bags
Measured need86 cu ft
Ordered volume87 cu ft
Above the plan1 cu ft
Mixed route is arithmetic only. Verify that the exact bulk and bagged products are suitable together before ordering.
Example quotes only. Replace every value with current supplier terms; the worksheet does not add separate tax, labor, coupon or return adjustments.
Build the order
Enter the volume you measured and both complete offers. Results update as you type.
01. Job volume
Need this number? Measure the beds first. Do not add your allowance twice.
02. Bulk quote
03. Bag quote
Complete ways to buy
Every shown route covers the measured volume. Fees apply only to routes actually used.
All bags
43 whole bags
0 cu ft extra
258.00All bulk
3.5 cu yd
8.5 cu ft extra
215.00Bulk + bags
3 cu yd + 3 bags
1 cu ft extra
208.00Lowest subtotal is not a product recommendation. Confirm compatibility, availability, fees, tax basis and delivery terms with the sellers.
How the worksheet checks the mix
It starts with the cubic feet required for your measured job. It considers bulk orders that are whole multiples of your supplier's entered increment and at least the entered minimum. For each valid bulk amount below a full bulk-only order, it fills the remaining volume with whole bags. It then compares the lowest mixed subtotal with an all-bag and an all-bulk order.
Checkable example, not a current price: 86 cu ft is about 3.185 cu yd. At 0.5-cu-yd bulk steps, 3 cu yd supplies 81 cu ft; three 2-cu-ft bags cover the 5-cu-ft gap. With the example prices and fees above, the mixed order totals 208.00, versus 215.00 for 3.5 cu yd of bulk or 258.00 for 43 bags.
If your supplier permits a different ordering pattern, volume limit, discount, or split delivery, use its written quote. The worksheet does not fetch current prices and does not calculate tax, labor, loading capacity, returns, or product equivalence.
Where the quantity rules come from
Iowa State University Extension explains measured area × depth, the 27-cu-ft cubic yard, and dividing by the printed bag volume before rounding to whole bags. A direct supplier FAQ illustrates why delivery minimums and purchasable bulk quantities must come from the actual supplier. Neither source endorses the sample prices or the idea that two products are interchangeable.
Want to choose only one route? Use the bulk-vs-bags calculator. Have unopened bags of different printed sizes already on hand? Use the bag coverage worksheet before buying.
Before you place an order
What does the mixed order actually optimize?
It checks valid bulk increments and fills only the remaining measured volume with whole bags. It compares the resulting subtotal with an all-bag and all-bulk order.
Can I combine any bag and bulk mulch?
No. Confirm the exact products suit the same area and that color, texture and material are acceptable together before using the mixed-order result.
Why might bulk-only be cheaper?
A larger bulk step can cost less than adding bags and paying a second route fee. Enter the supplier's current quote; the worksheet does not fetch prices.