How many bags of mulch are on a pallet?
A pallet of bagged mulch in 2 cu ft bags typically holds 60 to 70 bags; big-box pallets are commonly 65 or 70. Seventy bags is 140 cu ft (about 5.2 cubic yards), enough to cover about 560 sq ft at 3 in deep. A pallet weighs roughly 1,400–2,800 lb depending on moisture.
Bagged mulch is sold by volume, and the 2 cu ft bag is the standard US retail size. Home centers and garden centers commonly stock pallets of 60 to 70 of them. Home Depot lists several 2 cu ft Vigoro mulches as a "pallet of 70 bags".
How many bags of mulch are on a pallet?
| Bag size | Typical bags per pallet | Volume per pallet | Coverage at 2 in | Coverage at 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 cu ft | 70 | 140 cu ft (5.2 yd³, 3.96 m³) | 840 sq ft | 560 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft | 65 | 130 cu ft (4.8 yd³, 3.68 m³) | 780 sq ft | 520 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft | 60 | 120 cu ft (4.4 yd³, 3.40 m³) | 720 sq ft | 480 sq ft |
Coverage is volume divided by depth (2 in = 0.167 ft, 3 in = 0.25 ft), with no allowance for settling. Bags of 1.5 cu ft and 3 cu ft are also sold, and their pallet counts differ; some online sellers also ship half pallets of about 30–35 bags. The pallet count on your retailer's listing or supplier's quote is authoritative.
How much does a pallet of mulch weigh?
A 2 cu ft bag of wood mulch weighs very roughly 20–40 lb depending on moisture, wood type and dye, so a 70-bag pallet is roughly 1,400–2,800 lb (635–1,270 kg), plus 30–50 lb for the pallet. These are estimates. Mulch stored outdoors absorbs rain through the vent holes and gets heavier. Rubber mulch and stone are much denser per bag. See how much a pallet weighs.
Even the light end of that range is a full load for a half-ton pickup. Check your door-jamb payload label, or split the pallet into several trips.
What decides the count
- Bag volume and fill. A 2 cu ft bag of loose shredded mulch has a similar footprint across brands, so counts cluster at 60–70.
- Layer pattern and height. Bags are interlocked in alternating layers on the pallet and stacked to a height that stays stable in the yard. Count per layer × layers is the Ti-Hi.
- Weight. Wet or dense products (rubber, stone, compost) hit weight limits before height limits.
- Retail display. Some stores use shorter stacks for easier customer access.
How to calculate what you need
- Measure the bed area in square feet.
- Multiply by the depth in feet (3 in = 0.25 ft) to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 2 for the number of 2 cu ft bags.
- Divide by the bags per pallet.
Example: 400 sq ft at 3 in is 100 cu ft, or 50 bags, which is a partial pallet.
If you are palletizing bags yourself, measure a filled bag lying flat and run it through the cases per pallet calculator with your height and weight limits.
Pallet deposits and returns
Garden-center pallets are usually one-way pallets. Some landscape suppliers charge a refundable pallet deposit on delivered pallets, many do not. Ask when you order, and keep the pallet dry and intact if you want the credit.
For pallet specifications in this sector, see building materials pallets.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of mulch make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so it takes 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft mulch. A 70-bag pallet is about 5.2 cubic yards.
How much area does a pallet of mulch cover?
A 70-bag pallet (140 cu ft) covers about 840 sq ft at 2 in deep or about 560 sq ft at 3 in deep.
Is bagged or bulk mulch cheaper for large areas?
For several cubic yards or more, bulk mulch from a landscape yard is usually cheaper per cubic yard. Bags are easier to store, carry and spread in small beds.
Related
- What fits on a palletHow many bags of soil are on a pallet?Soil pallets vary by bag size: about 80–85 bags of 0.75 cu ft garden soil or topsoil (60–64 cu ft), about 50 bags of 1.5 cu ft raised-bed soil (75 cu ft) and 39–48 bags of 2 cu ft potting mix (78–96 cu ft). Topsoil pallets are the heaviest, often well over 2,000 lb.
- What fits on a palletHow many square feet are in a pallet of sod?A pallet of sod usually covers 400, 450 or 500 sq ft. Southern farms ship 16 × 24 in slabs (about 150–190 per pallet); northern farms often ship 5 sq ft mini rolls or 10 sq ft big rolls. A pallet weighs about 1,500–3,000 lb, more when wet.
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- CalculatorsCases per pallet (Ti-Hi)Cases per layer, layers, total cases, load height, gross weight and cube utilization for any case and pallet size, with the layer pattern.
- GuidesHow much does a pallet weigh? Weights by type, material and moistureA standard 48 × 40 wood stringer pallet weighs about 30 to 60 lb (14 to 27 kg). New green hardwood pallets sit at the top of that range and dry ones near the bottom. A EUR pallet weighs about 25 kg (55 lb), pooled 48 × 40 block pallets about 60 to 70 lb, and plastic pallets 14 to 70 lb depending on type.
- GlossaryWhat is ti-hi?Ti-hi describes how cases are stacked on a pallet: the ti is the number of cases in each layer and the hi is the number of layers. Ti times hi gives the cases per pallet; for example, a 10 × 5 ti-hi is 50 cases.
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Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 550 words.