Bark and mulch calculator
At 50 mm deep, each square metre takes about 60 litres of bark once it settles, so a 60 litre bag covers about 1 m².
- Bark needed
- 240 litres
- Bulk bags (about 0.54 m³)
- 1
- Volume
- 0.24 m³
- Area
- 4.00 m²
4 × 1 m at 50 mm deep, plus 20% for settling.
Bulk bag sizes vary between suppliers, so check theirs.
Bark for common areas
At 50 mm deep with 20% for settling, in 60 litre bags.
| Area | Litres | 60 L bags | Bulk bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m² | 60 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 m² | 120 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 m² | 300 | 5 | 1 |
| 10 m² | 600 | 10 | 2 |
| 20 m² | 1,200 | 20 | 3 |
| 50 m² | 3,000 | 50 | 6 |
How we calculate this
We multiply the area by the depth to get the volume, then add extra because bark settles and packs down once it’s spread.
Melcourt says two 60 litre bags cover about 1.5 to 2 m² at 50 mm, less than the 2.4 m² their volume alone suggests. Adding 20% brings our figure in line with the top of that range.
Questions people ask
How much does a bag of bark cover?
A 60 litre bag covers about 1 m² at 50 mm deep once it has settled. At 75 mm it covers about two thirds of that.
Should I put membrane under bark?
A permeable weed membrane under bark helps stop weeds coming through and keeps the bark from mixing into the soil. Don’t use plastic sheeting, as water needs to drain through.
What depth of bark under play equipment?
Much deeper than for a border. Play bark under swings and climbing frames is laid far deeper to cushion falls, so check the guidance for your equipment and use the depth it gives.
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