How much does it cost to have mulch delivered?

Reviewed by Adam Graham remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Mulch does more than give your lawn and garden a fresh, cultured look. It keeps it healthy and fertile. Without mulch, your flowers and grass could dry out, get taken over by weeds, fail to grow and reproduce, and look haggard. By adding mulch around your landscaping, you give those plants the cool, rich, and moist soil they need to thrive. When you use mulch, it is usually best to have it delivered for the best quality and cost value.

The average cost of mulch delivery ranges from $100 to $300 per cubic yard delivered, with most people paying about $175 per cubic yard of pine or hardwood chipped mulch delivered. On the low end, you could spend as little as $80 for bulk delivery of one cubic yard of pine straw. At the high end, some people spend as much as $550 for premium mulch delivery of one cubic yard of crushed seashell mulch that includes transportation, delivery, dumping, and installation of the mulch in your preferred location.

Mulch Delivery Price

Mulch Delivery Cost by Delivery Type

The average mulch delivery cost by type of delivery is $50 to $300, depending on the type of delivery and other factors. Different methods and quantities are available for mulch delivery, and factors such as distance and fuel surcharges. You need to contact local mulch suppliers to see what kind of delivery types they offer. In the table and subsections below, you will see average costs for each type of delivery, what it entails, and any special considerations to keep in mind.

Mulch by the Scoop

The average cost of mulch delivered by the scoop is around $50 to $80 per scoop, including delivery. A scoop measures about half a cubic yard. This is ideal for people who want bulk mulch delivery but might not need a full yard or want the expense of bagged mulch. Several factors impact the final cost, including the type and quality of mulch chosen and how many scoops need to be delivered. In some instances, the company may change it to a per-yard rate or a different rate to help with cost savings.

Mulch per Yard Delivered

Most mulch is priced for delivery by the yard when purchased in bulk, which costs an average of $80 to $175 per yard. This includes the mulch itself and the cost of delivery, which is why there is such a range in the price. If you need more than a single yard, you’ll have to multiply the rate by how many yards you need for an exact total. Your mulch supplier can provide a breakdown of exactly what you are paying for, including the cost per yard and how much of the total is related to delivery fees.

Bagged Mulch Delivery

The average cost of bagged mulch delivery is higher than bulk mulch, at about $100 to $200 per delivery. For smaller landscaping jobs, you may want to order the appropriate number of bags and have them delivered to your doorstep. In this case, you pay the per bag price for the mulch itself and then pay the standard delivery fee. Keep in mind that the bags will likely be stacked near your fence, garage, or yard when they are delivered. Expect to pay an additional fee of at least $50 if you want the bags scattered in different areas or carried to your backyard. Of course, the most expensive delivery option is to have the crew install the mulch in your gardens when they arrive.

Truckload of Mulch Delivered

It costs an average of $150 to $300 to have a truckload of mulch delivered. A truckload usually starts at 2 cubic yards. If you are referring to an actual truckload, that will be on the higher end of the price range. If you need multiple loads, you can multiply the average cost by the number of loads you need to arrive at a total. A truckload will usually contain 10 to 30 cubic yards of mulch in total. For big jobs, this is usually a little more cost-effective than buying bulk mulch by the cubic yard, so be sure to consider it when setting up your mulch job. Some companies offer free delivery within a certain radius, which helps offset the costs.

Bag Mulch vs Bulk

Bag mulch is $20 to $25 more expensive than bulk mulch when you have it delivered. While bulk mulch ranges from $80 to $175, bagged mulch costs between $100 and $200. When shopping for mulch, you have to factor in whether you want bulk mulch delivery cost ranges or bagged mulch costs. When buying mulch in bulk, the price depends on what type of mulch you purchase, how much you purchase (the more you buy, the cheaper it gets), how many miles the truck must travel to get to your home, and whether or not you want the mulch unloaded in one large pile, several piles scattered around your property, or installed.

Bagged mulch is great if you are spreading mulch around a large property and need several bags in different places. It gives you the chance to buy smaller quantities of premium mulch for a specialty landscaping project while having the rest done in bulk. It may be slightly more expensive to have delivered. If you pick it up at your local home improvement store, the only real cost difference will be the manual labor involved with bringing the mulch home. Bulk mulch is readily available if you call landscaping services and mulch companies. It will probably cost more than it’s worth for smaller jobs. If, however, you are mulching a large area and need more than five or ten bags of mulch, it will be more cost-effective and save you the work of hauling the mulch yourself or moving a bunch of bags around. They use equipment to move and dump the mulch around the yard as necessary. The selection of products in both varieties is the same, so that will not impact your decision.

Mulch Delivery Cost by Type of Mulch

The average mulch delivered cost is $75 to $3,150, depending on the type of material used, how much is needed, and other factors. This price includes the average $50 to $150 delivery fee for the mulch provider and will reflect what people can expect to spend on their mulch delivery. In the table and subsections below, we will look at all of the different types of mulch, how they’re delivered, how much each costs, and more. That way, you’ll have a better idea of how to choose the right mulch for your budget and your yard.

​

Gravel Mulch

Gravel mulch delivery ranges in price from $75 to $205, depending on the type of gravel used, the amount you need, and how far it is being delivered. Gravel decomposes slowly, but it doesn’t do so enough that you will have to replace it in your lifetime. It doesn’t migrate and may need the occasional raking, but other than that, it requires minimal maintenance and care. You can choose from several types, including various colors, to create the look that you want.

Hay Mulch

You can expect to spend about $80 to $190 to have a cubic yard of hay mulch delivered. Hay is not generally used as a permanent mulching solution but a temporary fix to secure things like grass seed or protect the ground from specific elements. You often see hay mulch used in new construction, for complete yard reseedings, and as a temporary solution for ground protection while awaiting the appropriate ground cover. It is fairly cheap, and in some cases, small bales of hay can even be purchased at a local home improvement store. However, when covering a large area, it’s more cost-effective to have hay delivered and laid by the pros.

Pine Straw Mulch

Delivered pine straw mulch costs between $80 and $190 per cubic yard. This mulch consists of just pine needles and is a great solution when looking for a temporary insulator to cover the ground. It’s easy to spread, and it breaks down quickly so that you can cover things and provide protection from the elements. Pine needles also offer an organic, natural-looking option for flower beds. This is not very attractive, so it’s not a decorative choice. Yet, it is a functional tool that provides several options.

Shredded Wood Mulch

The use of shredded wood mulch is quite common and ranges from $90 to $120 per cubic yard, with the cost of delivery included in that range. This mulch is made from lumber byproducts and is easy to spread, making it so popular. It raises the pH of the soil, though, so keep that in mind around plants. Some companies charge less for this mulch if you purchase it in larger quantities or aren’t picky about color. Even at regular prices, it isn’t an expensive option.

Bark Mulch

You will spend about $90 to $210 for bark mulch delivered. This is one of the most common materials used in modern landscaping. It has many larger textured pieces. It’s great for flat surfaces, but it’s fairly lightweight, so it isn’t recommended to use this mulch in extreme settings. It is decorative and available in several different colors, including red, black, brown, and more. You can trust that this mulch will stay put and offer a cost-effective solution that provides quality without breaking the bank and gives you a long-lasting mulch option.

Tea Tree Mulch

If you choose tea tree mulch, you can expect to pay around $90 to $210 delivered. This mulch is sourced directly from the tea tree. It is a byproduct of the trees being sourced for the tea tree oil known for its health and hair properties and how it repels bugs. The bark offers the same unique scent that people recognize from this plant and can be ground up as finely as you like (or not) to be used for mulch around the home.

Shell Mulch

Shell mulch costs an average of $90 to $550 delivered. The price variation is because of the variety of shells available. Crushed shells are unique because they break down a lot slower than other mulch materials and are very good at staying put. They can be difficult to walk on, and the price range can be intimidating to some people. However, crushed seashells create a beautiful finish in any garden or yard that features a mulched area, allowing you to show off your style for a reasonable price.

Hemlock Mulch

You can get Hemlock mulch delivered for $95 to $215 per cubic yard, on average. Hemlock is a softer wood that is aromatic and has a medium color. Once shredded, its relatively dense texture works well in several different areas. It is great for gardens and traditional landscaping and repels some insects. It stays put well and resists fading, making it a good choice for long-term use with less maintenance. It costs more if it is in short supply, but it is generally easy to find.

Playground Mulch

The average cost of playground mulch delivered is $95 to $225, depending on the exact substrate or material chosen and how much is needed for the job. This material can be organic or inorganic and is available in several forms. It is often sold specifically as playground mulch to designate that it is safe for small children to play on or offers maximum comfort and durability under the constant stress of play. Mulching a playground can be a great way to provide safety from the dangers of hard surfaces and provide a more pleasing finished look.

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa hull mulch is a unique but favorable option for several people and costs about $140 to $250 per cubic yard delivered. Cocoa hulls are full of essential nutrients that provide a unique, aromatic product that delivers something totally different. This material isn’t as commonly used because of its expensive cost and because it can also be poisonous to some wildlife and domesticated dogs. However, for those who choose it, it provides a great look and impressive durability and is generally worth the cost.

Cedar Mulch

Cedar mulch delivered costs between $150 and $260 per cubic yard, depending on several factors, including how much you need, where the delivery is coming from, and the exact quality and type of cedar being used. This is a very aromatic wood that many people love having in their garden because it is beautiful and repels bugs very well. This mulch is dense and doesn’t migrate, so it can be a great choice for needing less maintenance over time. It is harder to source and in high demand, though, so it can be expensive.

Cypress Mulch

Cypress mulch costs between $150 and $270 per cubic yard for delivery and materials. You can have it delivered in larger or smaller quantities as needed, but you will typically spend more for bagged cypress than you would for bulk supplies of the mulch. Be sure to ask where the cypress is sourced from and ensure that it meets your aesthetic needs. Cypress is aromatic and easy to maintain, but it tends to break down faster and needs to be replaced more frequently in certain climates.

Pine Mulch

Pine mulch can be delivered for $175 to $300 per cubic yard and offers a softer wood that is less harsh than some of the options on this list. Pine mulch is not to be confused with pine straw or pine needles, which is a different product entirely. This mulch comes in the form of tree chunks and pine shavings or a combination of the two. The product you get determines how much the entire project will cost you in the long run. Pine is durable, but it isn’t nearly as hardy as other woods. Like many kinds of mulch, this one is often made from felled trees and damaged pines.

Rubber Mulch

The average cost of rubber mulch is $250 to $550. Rubber mulch is a good eco-friendly solution since it is usually made of recycled tires or other rubber materials. Rubber varies in price based on the exact type of material being used. This material helps with aesthetics and moisture retention. High-end rubber products cost as much as $200 to $400 per cubic foot, but cheaper rubber can be found.

Plastic Mulch

The average plastic mulch cost is $325 to $450, with delivery included. Mulched plastic is a unique material. It’s not a loose aggregate like several of the options on this list, but a piece of sheeting laid over the ground. This mulch roll protects the ground and helps retain moisture, block weeds, and more. Plus, it can be punctured so that things can go through it. This product is available in a biodegradable form.

Tumbled Glass Mulch

Tumbled glass mulch costs $2,050 to $3,150 delivered. This premium mulch option is a great choice for those who want to create an upscale look in their home or business garden with a unique material. Glass is mostly used as an accent because it is so expensive that it isn’t an affordable option for large spaces. However, it doesn’t lose color or break down over time, making it a popular choice for those looking for a complete solution, so they never have to do landscaping again.

Cost to Have Mulch Delivered

The average cost to have mulch delivered of $175 includes the materials and the labor, of which about 50%, can be attributed to labor, with the other 50% attributed to materials. When it comes to mulch delivery, you pay more for labor costs related to fuel and mileage charges than the manual labor people associate with mulch installation and spreading. The latter service is around the same price but will typically be incurred as an additional cost on top of the delivery charge.

In smaller landscaping jobs, you may want to order the bags you need and have them delivered to the door. This requires paying for the mulch and the company’s delivery fee, which usually ranges from $50 to $150, depending on how much mulch is being delivered and how far you are from the provider. If you want manual labor, such as bags hauled or mulch spread, that incurs an additional charge. If you simply have the mulch delivered and dropped in the closest location near the truck, you will pay the minimum cost for labor.

When buying mulch in bulk, the price depends on what type of mulch you purchase, how much you purchase (the more you buy, the cheaper it gets), how many miles the truck must travel to get to your home, and whether or not you want the mulch unloaded in one large pile, several piles scattered around your property, or installed. When determining the price of delivery, a lot depends on what the delivery crew will do with the mulch when they get to your home. If they are simply emptying the mulch from their truck onto your driveway, the total delivery fee not including the price of the mulch will be about $50 per cubic yard.

How Much Mulch Do You Need?

There is no way to know for sure how much mulch you need until you measure the area and decide how deep you want to install it. Whether laying a new lawn, starting a new garden, reseeding an existing lawn, or lining driveways, sidewalks, and around trees, the first thing you have to decide is where you want the mulch to go. Then, begin measuring the area. For flat, rectangular, or square areas, multiply the width by the length. Round areas need to be measured from the middle to the edge. Whatever number you come up with, multiply it by 3.14.

Next, take the square footage you just came up with and multiply it by the number of inches you would like your mulch bed to be in depth (this is usually 1 to 3 inches). Finally, divide that number by 324 to get the cubic yards needed. So, let’s say that you want to mulch a three-foot by six-foot garden. You will multiply 3 x 6, which equals 18, and then 18 by 3 (the inches of thickness, in this case, three inches). This totals 54, and you’ll multiply that by 3.14, which is 169.56. Divide this by 324, and you have 0.52 cubic yards of mulch needed for the job.

If the math seems too confusing, don’t worry, online mulch calculators help you figure out exactly how much mulch to buy and install. Remember that buying mulch by the bag can be useful for small areas when only a few cubic yards are needed (most bags come in 2 cubic yards). If you are planning to landscape large areas, having it delivered by the truckload or partial truckload is not only easier, but it saves you hundreds of dollars on material costs by buying in bulk.

How Thick Should Mulch Be?

One question you may have when ordering new mulch is how thick to place it in your flower beds and landscaping areas. This is important since it helps you determine how much mulch to buy. For new areas that have never been treated before, most lawn experts suggest 3 to 4 inches. For those who mulch every year, 1 to 2 inches is plenty, with the average being about 2 to 3 inches. Remember, the coarser the mulch, the more you will use. Avoid adding too much mulch around tender plantings as this can suffocate the plants. Feel free to lay a thick coat of mulch in areas with no plants and where you want to keep weeds from infiltrating the area.

Choosing the Right Mulch

Mulch comes in many different styles and colors. What works for one area may not work for another. For instance, pine bark is very common and regularly used in flower beds to enhance the soil. But don’t use it in areas that have water runoff, or it may wash away. Choosing the right mulch depends largely on the aesthetic you desire, the weather in your area, and the types of plants you have. Azaleas respond well to pine needles due to their thirst for acidic soil, but be careful when using shredded hardwood because some plants don’t do well with the higher pH levels resulting from this type of mulch. When it comes to weather conditions, stone can be a great choice for areas with desert-like or drought-friendly plants since the stone tends to get hot, warming the soil and drying it out.

Colored Mulch

Drive through any neighborhood, and you will see various hues when it comes to mulch your neighbors use. From black to brown to red, mulch coloring has become a mainstay in today’s landscape architectural scene. In most cases, that distinct mulch color comes from vegetable-based dyes, but that isn’t always the case. For instance, red mulches generally get their rich color from iron oxide (or rust), while black mulch is dyed with carbon. All of these organic dyes are safe.

There has been some controversy over using showy colors for mulch because of the safety concerns of the dyes used. For example, chromated copper arsenate-laced wood, also known as CCA, is used for making mulch and increases arsenic levels in the soil. Although it’s preferred because it has a wood preservative that protects against fungus and termites, it can affect the health of those living in your home and even your pets if they come in contact with the mulch or eat vegetables grown in soil that has been covered with CCA-treated wood. To ensure that you are using a CCA-free mulch, be sure to look for the MSC Certified Logo on any mulch you buy. This protects both your family and your plants.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Have Mulch Installed

If you choose to have mulch installed, you can expect to pay an additional $55 to $75 per hour to have the mulch put into place once it is delivered. This guide is dedicated to the cost of having mulch delivered, not the cost of having mulch installed. The actual cost of mulch installation will be a different charge and may require a separate fee from the delivery cost for your mulch delivery. If you elect to have a landscaper or company spread the mulch and finish the job, you will pay a different price that may be slightly more than expected. However, you should be sure to ask the company exactly what you are paying for when you get your estimate to have a fair idea of what to expect when the bill comes.

Remove Mulch

The cost to remove mulch ranges from $0.50 to $1.00 per square foot and typically includes the entire cleanup process along with disposal. It isn’t always necessary to remove old mulch before putting new down. However, once you have gotten 4 to 6 inches deep, landscapers and mulching pros tell you that it’s time to start fresh. Removing the mulch before a new layer is put down is time-consuming. So, many landscapers suggest adding another layer rather than having mulch removed. Thus, the removal process is only done when necessary or requested by the homeowner.

Fertilizer Delivery

In addition to having mulch laid, you could spend as much as $150 to $500 to have fertilizer delivered and dumped for use in your yard. You could pay more or be closer to the high end if you ask them to spread the fertilizer. This is an important step to nourish the soil and ensure that it has the nutrients it needs to keep growing and thriving. This is especially important because nothing will grow like it could (or should) without a good solid foundation.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Delivery time. Everyone wants their deliveries made on the weekends, making scheduling harder and even increasing the price by 10 to 20%. If possible, consider scheduling your mulch delivery for during the week.
• Permits and licenses. Unless your house has been designated a Historic property, there is little chance you need any special permits or licenses to have mulch delivered and installed on the grounds. Still, it is always a good idea to check with your local zoning and inspections office to be sure.
• Organic mulch. In many cases, it does not last as long as inorganic mulch. Still, it should maintain its appearance for at least one to two years.
• Compost as mulch. Depending on what type of area you are covering, one of the best mulches you can use to give your soil a boost of nutrients is compost you either purchase or make yourself. Even if you buy it, compost is pretty cheap. Be careful using it where there are weeds, though, because it gives weeds the nutrients they need to flourish, along with your plants.
• Landscape cloth. One of the least expensive options for protecting your plants from weeds while also giving them the kind of coverage that allows water and air to penetrate the soil is landscape cloth. This cloth comes in rolls. This is placed atop the soil around plantings. Rocks or other types of mulch are usually placed on top for a nicer, more refined look.
• Estimates. It is important to get at least three estimates when comparing mulch delivery services. This ensures that you get a fair and accurate price, are not overpaying for any services, and choose the right company for the job.