{
  "id": "mulch-calculator",
  "version": "20.13.0",
  "name": "Mulch Calculator",
  "shortName": "Mulch",
  "description": "Estimate the volume of mulch or soil needed for your garden beds and landscaping projects. Add editable USD material and labor prices and compare low, middle and high budget scenarios.",
  "category": "Home & Construction",
  "categorySlug": "home-construction",
  "keywords": [
    "mulch"
  ],
  "status": "live",
  "workStatus": "pending",
  "reviewStatus": "pending",
  "migrationStatus": "migrated",
  "migratedDate": "2026-09-10",
  "engine": "native",
  "creator": null,
  "reviewer": null,
  "quality": {
    "availability": "live",
    "technicalReviewRecord": "/reviews/mulch-calculator.json",
    "qualifiedReview": "pending",
    "qualifiedReviewer": null,
    "qualifiedReviewDate": null,
    "formulaVersion": "20.13.0",
    "referenceCoverage": "references-listed",
    "releaseTestScope": "Catalog and regression checks are not a professional formula audit; consult release evidence.",
    "historicalMetadataDate": "2026-08-18",
    "historicalMetadataNotice": "The imported date is not evidence of a completed human review."
  },
  "notice": "Planning quantities and user-entered USD costs, not a contractor quote, structural design or code approval. Default prices are zero (unpriced); enter your supplier and labor quotes. New changes await independent review.",
  "urls": {
    "page": "/us/mulch/",
    "definition": "/us/mulch/definition.json",
    "schema": "/us/mulch/schema.json",
    "llms": "/us/mulch/llms.txt",
    "legacyDefinition": "/us/mulch/definition.json"
  },
  "queryExample": "https://askcalculators.com/us/mulch/?length=12&width=9&depth=3&wastePercent=0&bagCubicFeet=2&unitCost=40&laborCost=75&deliveryCost=25&costSpreadPercent=15",
  "queryParameters": {
    "unitSystem": {
      "label": "Dimension units",
      "type": "select",
      "required": false,
      "default": "imperial"
    },
    "length": {
      "label": "Length (ft / m)",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 10
    },
    "width": {
      "label": "Width (ft / m)",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 5
    },
    "depth": {
      "label": "Depth (in / cm)",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 3
    },
    "wastePercent": {
      "label": "Purchasing allowance (%)",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 0
    },
    "bagCubicFeet": {
      "label": "Supplier bag volume (ft³)",
      "type": "number",
      "required": false,
      "default": 2
    },
    "unitCost": {
      "label": "Material price (USD / cubic yard)",
      "type": "money",
      "required": false,
      "default": 0
    },
    "laborCost": {
      "label": "Total labor allowance (USD)",
      "type": "money",
      "required": false,
      "default": 0
    },
    "deliveryCost": {
      "label": "Delivery allowance (USD)",
      "type": "money",
      "required": false,
      "default": 0
    },
    "costSpreadPercent": {
      "label": "Low/high variation around entered subtotal (%)",
      "type": "percent",
      "required": false,
      "default": 15
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "unitSystem",
      "label": "Dimension units",
      "type": "select",
      "defaultValue": "imperial",
      "options": [
        {
          "label": "US customary (ft, in)",
          "value": "imperial"
        },
        {
          "label": "Metric (m, cm)",
          "value": "metric"
        }
      ],
      "help": "Changing this selector converts dimensions already entered. Prices keep the purchasing unit printed beside each price."
    },
    {
      "id": "length",
      "label": "Length (ft / m)",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 10
    },
    {
      "id": "width",
      "label": "Width (ft / m)",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "depth",
      "label": "Depth (in / cm)",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "wastePercent",
      "label": "Purchasing allowance (%)",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "min": 0,
      "step": 0.01,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "bagCubicFeet",
      "label": "Supplier bag volume (ft³)",
      "type": "number",
      "defaultValue": 2,
      "min": 0,
      "step": 0.01
    },
    {
      "id": "unitCost",
      "label": "Material price (USD / cubic yard)",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "min": 0,
      "step": 0.01,
      "help": "Zero means unpriced. Use a current supplier quote; do not treat zero as free."
    },
    {
      "id": "laborCost",
      "label": "Total labor allowance (USD)",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "min": 0,
      "step": 0.01
    },
    {
      "id": "deliveryCost",
      "label": "Delivery allowance (USD)",
      "type": "money",
      "defaultValue": 0,
      "min": 0,
      "step": 0.01
    },
    {
      "id": "costSpreadPercent",
      "label": "Low/high variation around entered subtotal (%)",
      "type": "percent",
      "defaultValue": 15,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100,
      "step": 1,
      "help": "A user-adjustable planning scenario, not a researched local price range."
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "cubicYards",
      "label": "Order volume (yd³)",
      "format": "number",
      "primary": true,
      "digits": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "cubicMetres",
      "label": "Order volume (m³)",
      "format": "number",
      "digits": 3
    },
    {
      "id": "bags",
      "label": "Whole bags (alternative purchase)",
      "format": "number"
    },
    {
      "id": "materialCost",
      "label": "Material cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "laborCost",
      "label": "Labor allowance",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "deliveryCost",
      "label": "Delivery allowance",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "unitRate",
      "label": "Entered USD rate / cubic yard",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "estimatedTotal",
      "label": "Entered subtotal",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "costLow",
      "label": "Low budget scenario",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "costMid",
      "label": "Middle budget scenario",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "costHigh",
      "label": "High budget scenario",
      "format": "currency",
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    {
      "id": "pricingStatus",
      "label": "Pricing status",
      "format": "text"
    }
  ],
  "formula": {
    "expression": "Volume = area × depth; the result converts cubic feet to cubic yards.; material = unrounded purchase quantity × entered unit price; middle = material + labor + delivery; low/high = middle × (1 ∓ variation/100)"
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "label": "Illustrative USD purchasing scenario",
      "inputs": {
        "length": 12,
        "width": 9,
        "depth": 3,
        "wastePercent": 0,
        "bagCubicFeet": 2,
        "unitCost": 40,
        "laborCost": 75,
        "deliveryCost": 25,
        "costSpreadPercent": 15
      }
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "label": "NIST SI conversion factors — accessed 10 September 2026",
      "url": "https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors"
    },
    {
      "label": "NIST international-foot guidance — accessed 10 September 2026",
      "url": "https://www.nist.gov/pml/us-surveyfoot"
    }
  ],
  "publicSlug": "mulch",
  "namespace": "us",
  "countries": [
    "us"
  ]
}