Bark Calculator
Calculate how many cubic yards and bags of bark chips or bark dust you need for landscaping beds.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Bark chips and bark dust are organic ground covers made from tree bark. They suppress weeds, retain moisture, and break down slowly to enrich soil. Bark is sold by the cubic yard in bulk or by the bag at garden centers.
The Formula
Volume (cu ft) = Length x Width x Depth / 12
Cubic Yards = Volume / 27
Bags = Volume / bag size (2 or 3 cu ft)
Cubic Yards = Volume / 27
Bags = Volume / bag size (2 or 3 cu ft)
Variables
- L — Length of the area in feet
- W — Width of the area in feet
- D — Desired depth in inches (typically 2-4 inches)
- 27 — Number of cubic feet in one cubic yard
Example
A 20 ft x 10 ft bed at 3 inches deep needs 50 cu ft = 1.85 cubic yards. At $40/yard that costs about $74. Or buy 25 bags at 2 cu ft each.
Tips
- Large bark nuggets (2-3 inch) last longer but can float away in heavy rain; use on flat areas.
- Fine bark dust stays in place better on slopes but decomposes faster and needs annual refreshing.
- Bark is lighter than stone-based ground covers, making it easier to spread by hand.
- Cedar and cypress bark naturally resist insects and decomposition better than pine bark.
- Do not pile bark against house siding or fences, as trapped moisture can cause wood rot.