BuildMaterialCalc

Landscaping

How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Weigh?

Quick Reference

At a glance

Mulch weight by type — per cubic yard
Mulch typeWeightNotes
Hardwood (shredded)600–800 lbsDense, heaviest wood mulch
Cedar500–700 lbsAromatic, mid-weight
Pine bark nuggets400–600 lbsLight, drains well
Pine straw (pine needles)300–400 lbsLightest organic mulch
Dyed mulch600–800 lbsSame weight as undyed hardwood
Rubber mulch1,500–2,000 lbsRecycled tires, very dense

How to calculate it yourself

Total weight = number of cubic yards × weight per yard. A standard pickup truck bed (8 ft long) holds about 2 cubic yards level-loaded. For wood mulch that is ~1,200–1,600 lbs — at or under most half-ton pickup limits.

Common scenarios

One pickup-truck load (2 yd³)

Hardwood: 1,400 lbs. Pine bark: 1,000 lbs. Stay under your truck's payload (typically 1,500 lbs for a half-ton).

Front-yard refresh (3 yd³)

Hardwood: ~2,100 lbs total. One delivery covers it; a 5-yard dump trailer is overkill.

Whole-property landscape (10 yd³)

Hardwood: 7,000 lbs (3.5 tons). Two trips with a 5-yard dump trailer or one large delivery from a landscape supplier.

Related questions

Frequently asked

  • 0.2–0.4 tons (400–800 lbs) for organic mulches. Rubber mulch is closer to 1 ton per yard.

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