Whether you’re a landscaper pricing a job or a homeowner planning a weekend project, knowing what mulch actually costs per yard matters. Prices vary a lot depending on type, whether you buy bulk or bagged, what delivery looks like in your market, and what time of year you’re buying.
In this guide I’ll break down real mulch prices per cubic yard by type, explain what drives the price differences, cover delivery fees and bulk discounts, walk through installation labor costs, and explain when to buy for the best pricing. If you need to figure out how many yards you need first, start with our mulch calculator or read how much mulch do I need.
Mulch Prices by Type (2026)
These are bulk prices from landscape supply yards. Bagged prices from home improvement stores will be 30-60% higher per cubic yard equivalent.
| Mulch Type | Cost Per Cubic Yard | Lifespan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood (natural) | $30-$45 | 1-2 years | General landscaping, flower beds |
| Cedar | $40-$55 | 2-3 years | Insect-prone areas, aromatic gardens |
| Dyed black | $35-$50 | 1-2 years | Commercial, modern curb appeal |
| Dyed red | $35-$50 | 1-2 years | Traditional residential look |
| Dyed brown | $35-$50 | 1-2 years | Natural appearance, versatile |
| Pine bark (mini nuggets) | $35-$45 | 1-2 years | Garden beds, acid-loving plants |
| Pine bark (large nuggets) | $40-$55 | 2-3 years | Slopes, erosion control |
| Cypress | $45-$60 | 2-3 years | Wet areas, termite resistance |
| Rubber | $80-$120 | 10+ years | Playgrounds, commercial paths |
| Playground wood chips | $25-$35 | 1-2 years | Play areas, trails |
What Drives the Price Difference?
Raw material cost. Cedar and cypress come from more expensive wood. Hardwood mulch is usually made from chipped tree waste, which keeps the cost low. Rubber mulch uses recycled tires and requires processing.
Processing. Dyed mulch costs slightly more than natural because of the coloring step. Double-shredded mulch costs more than single-shredded. The more processing, the higher the price.
Longevity math. Cedar lasts 2-3 years while hardwood breaks down in 1-2 years. If you replace hardwood every 18 months and cedar every 30 months, cedar might actually cost less over a 5-year period when you factor in delivery and labor each time.
Delivery Fees
Almost every landscape supply yard charges for delivery. Here’s what to expect:
| Distance | Typical Delivery Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 10 miles | $50-$75 |
| 10-20 miles | $75-$100 |
| 20-30 miles | $100-$150 |
| 30+ miles | $150+ or may not deliver |
Minimum Orders for Delivery
Most yards require 2-3 cubic yards minimum for delivery. Some will deliver a single yard but charge the same fee, making the per-yard cost uncompetitive with bags at that quantity.
Free Delivery Thresholds
Many supply yards offer free delivery at 5-10+ cubic yards. If you’re close to that threshold, ordering a little extra is usually worth it. The extra mulch won’t go to waste, and you avoid the delivery fee entirely. At $75 delivery and $40/yard material cost, that extra yard more than pays for itself.
Bulk Discounts
Larger orders almost always mean better per-yard pricing:
| Order Size | Typical Discount |
|---|---|
| 1-4 yards | Standard pricing |
| 5-9 yards | 5-10% off per yard |
| 10-19 yards | 10-15% off per yard |
| 20+ yards | 15-25% off per yard |
Example: Hardwood at $40/yard standard rate. Order 15 yards and you might pay $35/yard, saving $75 on the job.
For contractors doing multiple jobs per week, setting up a standing account with a supply yard gets you the best rates and priority delivery scheduling. That relationship is worth building early.
Seasonal Pricing: When to Buy
Spring (March-April) is peak season. Supply yards are fully stocked and competition between yards keeps pricing competitive. This is when most homeowners and landscapers are buying, so availability is good and you get the best selection.
Late spring to early summer (May-June) is where prices can tick up 10-15% in some markets. Demand stays high but some yards start to run low on popular types.
Fall (October-November) is the second window. Many yards run clearance pricing on remaining stock and you can sometimes find deals 15-20% below spring prices. Not all yards participate, so ask before you assume.
Mid-summer is the worst time. Stock may be limited, prices are at seasonal peak, and the heat makes installation miserable for a crew.
Off-season contractor tip: Some supply yards offer pre-season booking discounts in January and February. Lock in your pricing for spring jobs before the rush. That can mean real savings on a high-volume mulch season.
How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Actually Cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Picture a pile roughly 3 feet in each direction. Once spread at typical depths:
| Depth | Coverage per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft |
Rule of thumb at 3 inches: 1 cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet. That’s the number most landscapers use for quick estimates.
Real-World Cost Example
Front yard landscape beds totaling 500 square feet at 3 inches:
- 500 / 108 = 4.63 cubic yards
- Add 10% waste buffer: 5.1 cubic yards
- Order: 5 yards of hardwood at $40/yard = $200 + $75 delivery = $275 total material
Compare to bags: 5 yards needs about 67 bags at $4.50 each = $301.50, plus you load, transport, and cut open every bag yourself.
Installation Labor Costs
If you’re hiring out the mulching or pricing it as a contractor, here’s the full picture:
| Cost Component | Per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| Material (hardwood) | $30-$45 |
| Delivery (amortized) | $5-$20 |
| Installation labor | $25-$45 |
| Total installed | $60-$110 |
For a typical residential job at 5-8 cubic yards, homeowners should budget $400-$800 installed. That covers material, delivery, spreading, edging cleanup, and any debris hauling.
What Installation Labor Covers
The labor rate for mulching includes more than dumping and raking:
- Bed edging or re-edging where needed
- Weed removal before spreading
- Wheelbarrowing material from the dump pile to each bed
- Spreading to consistent depth
- Cleanup of walkways and hardscaping after the job
A two-person crew can typically spread 8-12 cubic yards in a day depending on bed access, obstacles, and how far the dump pile is from the beds.
Regional Pricing Differences
Mulch prices vary by region based on what’s locally available and what fuel costs look like for delivery.
Southeast and Mid-Atlantic: Hardwood mulch runs $28-$40/yard. Good availability of pine bark and dyed mulch. Cedar is less common because it’s not a local wood.
Pacific Northwest: Cedar is locally produced and often competitive with hardwood prices ($35-$50). The wet climate means mulch breaks down faster, so refresh frequency is higher.
Midwest: Hardwood runs $30-$45/yard. Strong availability from the wood processing industry. Delivery costs can be higher in rural areas with fewer supply yards.
Northeast: Prices trend higher ($40-$55 for hardwood) due to labor costs and fuel. Urban markets like Boston and NYC see the highest prices.
Southwest: Hardwood and wood chip mulch can be harder to source locally. Prices trend $40-$60/yard and higher in some markets. Rubber and rock mulch are more common alternatives.
Mulch Type Comparisons: Settling the Debates
Hardwood vs Cedar
Hardwood wins on upfront cost ($30-$45 vs $40-$55). Cedar wins on longevity (2-3 years vs 1-2 years). Over a 6-year period you might replace hardwood 4 times and cedar twice. The total cost often comes out close, but cedar means fewer deliveries and less installation labor over that window.
Dyed vs Natural Hardwood
Dyed mulch costs about the same as hardwood ($35-$50). The color looks sharp on day one and fades within 3-6 months. If curb appeal is the priority you’ll need to refresh more often to keep it looking fresh. Natural hardwood ages to a silver-gray that many homeowners actually prefer over time.
Rubber vs Wood
Rubber mulch costs 2-3x more upfront ($80-$120 vs $30-$55) but lasts 10+ years. For playgrounds and commercial paths where safety cushioning matters, rubber wins on total cost of ownership. For garden beds, stick with wood. Rubber doesn’t improve the soil as it breaks down, because it doesn’t break down.
How to Estimate Mulch Jobs (For Contractors)
If you’re pricing mulch installation, here’s the workflow:
- Measure total bed area and calculate cubic yards using the formula: (L x W x depth in inches) / 324
- Add 10% waste factor
- Price materials at your supply yard rate for the type the client wants
- Add labor at $25-$45 per cubic yard depending on access and complexity
- Add delivery or amortize it across the job if you’re picking up with your own truck
- Add markup for overhead and profit
For complete landscaping estimates that include mulching alongside edging, planting, and cleanup, use the landscaping cost calculator. For gravel and aggregate pricing comparisons, the gravel calculator uses the same volume math and helps when clients want to compare mulch against decorative stone or gravel as a ground cover.
For a broader look at how to build contractor pricing that actually covers your costs, how much to charge for labor covers the full framework for labor rates, overhead, and markup.
FAQs
How much does a cubic yard of mulch cost?
Standard hardwood runs $30-$45 per cubic yard from landscape supply yards. Cedar is $40-$55. Dyed mulch runs $35-$50. Rubber is $80-$120. Prices are 30-60% higher per yard equivalent when buying bags from a home improvement store.
Is it cheaper to buy mulch in bulk or bags?
Bulk is almost always cheaper for orders over 3-4 cubic yards. Bagged mulch costs $47-$81 per yard equivalent vs $30-$55 for bulk. The gap grows with volume.
How much does mulch delivery cost?
Most landscape supply yards charge $50-$150 depending on distance. Many offer free delivery on orders of 5-10 yards or more. Factor delivery into your per-yard cost when comparing options.
How many cubic yards do I need?
Measure your total bed area in square feet, divide by 108 (for 3-inch depth) to get cubic yards, then add 10% for waste. A 1,000 sq ft landscape area at 3 inches needs about 10 cubic yards. Use our mulch calculator for exact numbers.
When is the best time to buy mulch?
Early spring (March-April) has the best selection and competitive pricing. Fall clearance (October-November) can save 15-20%. Avoid mid-summer when stock is low and prices peak.
Building landscape estimates for clients? Try EstimationPro free to generate professional, line-item estimates in minutes with accurate material quantities, labor costs, and markup built in.
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