How Far Does 1 Cubic Metre of Mulch Go?

Understanding Mulch Coverage Per Cubic Metre

If you've already ordered mulch or are planning your purchase by volume, knowing how far one cubic metre will spread is essential for planning. At the standard 75mm depth recommended for most garden beds, one cubic metre of mulch covers approximately 13.3 square metres. This means a single cubic metre could cover a garden bed measuring roughly 13 metres long by 1 metre wide, or a square area about 3.6 metres per side.

One cubic metre of wood chip mulch weighs approximately 400 kilograms, making it a reasonable pickup load for a medium trailer or ute. The coverage will vary slightly depending on how accurately you maintain the depth as you spread, but 13 square metres at 75mm is a reliable planning figure for most situations.

Coverage at Different Depths

The depth you choose significantly affects how far your mulch will stretch. At a lighter 50mm depth, suitable for raised vegetable beds, one cubic metre covers 20 square metres. At a thicker 100mm depth for weed suppression or paths, coverage drops to 10 square metres. Understanding these numbers helps you plan accurately, especially when suppliers quote prices per cubic metre and you need to match that to your garden's total area.

Planning Your Order

Start by measuring your garden beds and calculating the total square metres you need to cover. Divide that area by 13.3 for 75mm depth coverage to get the number of cubic metres required. If you're covering 40 square metres, for example, you'd need 3 cubic metres of mulch. It's often worth rounding up slightly, as having a small amount left over for top-ups is more convenient than running short mid-project.

Need to calculate specific garden areas? Use our main mulch calculator to enter your exact dimensions and get a precise volume requirement.