Wood Chips Calculator
Enter your bed, path, or fall-zone area and the mulch depth to get the cubic yards, weight, and bag count of wood chips you’ll need.
Measure straight across the widest point.
Adjust depth below if needed.
Covers spillage and compaction. 5–10% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Bags or bulk delivery?
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Coverage & weight
Material profile
For the default 20 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep, you’ll need about 2.04 cubic yards (0.51 tons) of hardwood chips, including 10% waste. Round up to 0.75 tons for bulk ordering — about $87.92 delivered, versus $499.50 in 0.5 cu ft bags.
Wood chips needed for common project sizes
These estimates use hardwood chips at 500 lb per cubic yard with a 10% waste allowance built in.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small garden bed, 200 sq ft | 3 in | 2.04 yd³ | 0.51 tons |
| Medium garden bed, 600 sq ft | 3 in | 6.11 yd³ | 1.53 tons |
| Walking path, 300 sq ft | 4 in | 4.07 yd³ | 1.02 tons |
| Long path, 1,000 sq ft | 4 in | 13.58 yd³ | 3.4 tons |
| Playground fall zone, 500 sq ft | 9 in | 15.28 yd³ | 3.82 tons |
| Large mulched bed, 1,500 sq ft | 3 in | 15.28 yd³ | 3.82 tons |
Wood chip types, weight and best use
| Type | Weight per yd³ | Best for | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arborist wood chips (mixed) | 450 lb | Paths, natural mulch, free/cheap | Excellent |
| Hardwood chips | 500 lb | Garden beds, longer-lasting | Good |
| Playground wood chips (engineered) | 450 lb | Playgrounds, fall zones | Good |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered material can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate wood chips you need
- Measure the coverage area length × width in feet for a bed or path, or use the circle/border option for tree rings.
- Set the depth 3in for garden beds, 4in for paths, up to 9in for certified playground fall zones.
- Pick a chip type free arborist chips for paths and casual mulching, hardwood for longer-lasting bed mulch, or certified playground chips for fall-zone safety surfacing.
- Add waste 10% covers spillage and settling as chips are spread and walked on.
- Compare bulk vs. bagged cost bulk delivery is far cheaper for anything beyond a small bed — many arborists even deliver chips free or cheap by the truckload.
Worked example
Using the calculator’s default 20 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep with hardwood chips:
- Area20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft
- Depth in feet3 in ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
- Volume200 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 50.0 cu ft
- Plus 10% waste50.0 × 1.10 = 55.0 cu ft
- Cubic yards55.0 ÷ 27 = 2.04 yd³
- Weight (hardwood chips, 500 lb/yd³)2.04 × 500 = 1,018.5 lb = 0.509 tons
- Order amountRound up to 0.75 tons — order in quarter-ton increments
- Bulk vs. bagged costBulk: 0.509 tons × $45/ton + $65 delivery = $87.92. Bags: 111 × $4.50 = $499.50
Recommended depth by project
| Project | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Garden bed mulch | 3 in | Standard weed suppression and moisture retention depth |
| Walking path | 4 in | Deeper layer stands up to foot traffic and compaction |
| Tree ring / around trunks | 2-3 in | Keep chips pulled back a few inches from the trunk itself |
| Playground fall zone | 9 in | Depth for certified engineered wood fiber under play equipment |
| Erosion control on slopes | 3-4 in | Coarser arborist chips resist washing away better than fine mulch |
Bags or bulk delivery?
Bagged wood chips cost several times more per ton than bulk, and free or low-cost arborist chips are often available locally by the truckload. Bulk delivery — or a free load from a local tree service — is almost always the better option once a project needs more than a small accent bed’s worth.
- Small beds/accentsunder about 0.5 ton (roughly 55 bags) — bags are convenient for topping off a small bed.
- Medium beds/paths0.5 to 2 tons — check with local tree services first, since many give away arborist chips free for the hauling.
- Large paths/playgroundsover 2 tons — bulk delivery (or a free arborist drop-off) is by far the cheapest option at this scale.
Common mistakes
- Piling mulch against tree trunks (volcano mulching)chips heaped against the trunk trap moisture and invite rot and pests; keep a few inches of clearance around the base.
- Using non-certified chips for a playgroundplayground fall-zone surfacing needs engineered wood fiber tested to a fall-height rating — regular arborist or garden chips aren’t certified for that use.
- Applying too deep in garden bedsmore than about 3-4 inches can suffocate roots and hold too much moisture against stems; thinner, more frequent top-ups work better than one thick layer.
- Not accounting for settling and decompositionwood chips break down and compact over a season, losing noticeable depth — expect to top up paths and beds annually.
- Using fresh, un-composted chips right against seedlingsfresh chips can temporarily tie up nitrogen at the soil surface as they start to break down; keep them off direct contact with small seedlings.
- Skipping edging on pathswithout edging, wood chip paths migrate into lawns and beds and need frequent re-raking to keep their shape.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Depth is the freshly spread depth; wood chips settle and compact somewhat over time.
- Default material is hardwood chips at roughly 500 lb per cubic yard; arborist and playground chips are similar but vary with moisture and species mix.
- 10% waste covers spillage and settling during spreading.
- Prices are material only — delivery, edging, and labor are separate; free arborist chips may only carry a delivery fee.
- Playground fall-zone depth should be confirmed against the specific equipment’s certified fall-height rating.
- Bag size is 0.5 cu ft, a common retail bag size for wood chip mulch.
Common questions
How much wood chip mulch do I need per square foot?
For a standard 3-inch layer, figure about 0.25 cubic feet per sq ft before waste — or use the calculator above with your exact area.
How deep should wood chips be for a garden bed?
3 inches is standard for weed suppression and moisture retention without smothering plant roots.
Can I get wood chips for free?
Often, yes — local tree services and arborists frequently give away fresh chip loads just to avoid a landfill or disposal fee. Ask around before buying bulk or bagged.
How often do wood chip paths need topping up?
Roughly once a year for high-traffic paths, since chips compact and decompose faster where they’re walked on.
What depth of wood chips is used for playgrounds?
Certified engineered wood fiber fall-zone surfacing is typically installed at 9 inches, though the exact depth depends on the equipment’s fall-height rating.
Is arborist mulch as good as bagged hardwood mulch?
For paths and casual bed mulching, yes — arborist chips (a mix of species with leaves and bark) work fine and are usually free. Bagged hardwood mulch is more uniform in color and size for a tidier look.
How much does a cubic yard of wood chips cover?
One cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or roughly 81 sq ft at 4 inches.
Do wood chips attract termites?
Wood chips can shelter some insects, but termites are far more attracted to wood in direct contact with a structure’s foundation than to mulch a few feet away; keep chips off direct contact with siding.
Is bulk or bagged cheaper for wood chips?
Bulk is dramatically cheaper. For the calculator’s default 200 sq ft area at 3 inches, bulk runs about $87.92 versus $499.50 in bags.
Should I put landscape fabric under wood chips?
It’s optional — fabric slows weeds short-term but can eventually work against you as chips decompose on top and create a soil layer that fabric then blocks roots from reaching; many gardeners skip it under wood chips specifically.
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Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Area | — |
| Material | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons (rounded up) | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.5 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard dry material densities. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.