A yard of mulch usually weighs about 400 to 1,200 pounds per cubic yard , with many common wood mulches landing around 600 to 1,000 pounds. The exact weight depends mostly on the mulch type and how much moisture it holds.

Quick Scoop

  • Dry wood mulch: about 400 to 700 pounds per yard.
  • Typical shredded bark or wood chips: about 600 to 1,000 pounds per yard.
  • Heavier, wetter, or compost-based mulch: can reach 1,000 to 1,200+ pounds per yard.
  • Light mulch like straw or hay: may be closer to 400 to 600 pounds per yard.

What changes the weight

  • Moisture content is the biggest factor, since wet mulch weighs a lot more than dry mulch.
  • Material type matters too, because hardwood, pine bark, rubber, and compost all have different densities.
  • Texture and particle size can also affect how much water the mulch holds.

Easy rule of thumb

If you just need a fast estimate, plan on about 800 pounds per cubic yard for many common mulches. That is a practical middle-ground number for buying, hauling, or loading into a truck.

Helpful note

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet , so if you are calculating delivery or truck load weight, that volume is the standard unit mulch sellers use.

If you want, I can also estimate how many yards you need for your yard size and mulch depth.