How many bags of rubber mulch for a playground?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 10×12 ft play set needs 528 sq ft of surfacing; at CPSC's 6 in of shredded rubber that is 9.8 cu yd — 330 bags of 0.8 cu ft.

Use zone: CPSC extends surfacing at least 6 ft past the equipment on every side, so 10×12 becomes 22×24 ft = 528 sq ft.
Depth: CPSC's public handbook rates 6 in of shredded or recycled rubber for falls up to 10 ft.
Cost: 330 bags at about $7.47 is roughly $2,465; rubber doesn't decompose, so it is a one-time fill plus raking.
Swings: for to-and-fro swings CPSC extends the zone in front and behind to twice the top-bar height — an 8 ft swing beam needs 16 ft each way, so add that length.
Compare: the same zone in wood fiber at 12 in would be 19.6 cu yd.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you mulching?

Job

CPSC: loose fill over the equipment footprint plus 6 ft on every side.

Play equipment footprint

Equipment length

= 10' · 3.05 m

Equipment width

= 12' · 3.66 m

We add the 6 ft use zone on every side: 22' × 24' of surfacing.

Mulch & depth

Mulch

Doesn't break down or feed the soil. MSU Extension: 2–4 in in beds; playgrounds need 6 in (CPSC).

Initial fill depth

CPSC: 6 in of shredded rubber.

Exact depth

How you'll buy it

You need

9.8cu yd of rubber mulch

9.78 cu yd (264 cu ft) · 528 sq ft at 6 in · 330 × 0.8 cu ft bags

Cubic yards: 9.78cu yd264 cu ft
Area incl. use zone: 528 sq ft
One 0.8 cu ft bag covers: 1.6sq ftat 6 in
Bags per cubic yard: 33.80.8 cu ft bags

Bags or bulk?

330 × 0.8 cu ft bags

$2,465

materials, before tax

9.78 cu yd delivered

—

no bulk price — add one

Bags work out to $252 per cubic yard. Your plan (bags): $2,465.

How high a fall each surface protects (CPSC)

CPSC Table 2: depth of loose fill and protected fall height
Surface	Depth	Protects falls to
Wood chips	9 in	10 ft
Wood mulch (not CCA-treated)	9 in	7 ft
Pea gravel	9 in	5 ft
Sand	9 in	4 ft
Shredded / recycled rubber	6 in	10 ft

Swings need a longer zone

For to-and-fro swings, CPSC extends surfacing in front of and behind the swing to twice the height of the top bar; for tire swings, a circle of chain length plus 6 ft. Add those areas as extra length here.

Pea gravel or sand instead? Use the gravel or sand calculator — CPSC rates 9 in of either for lower falls (5 ft and 4 ft).

Shopping list

330 bags Rubber mulch, 0.8 cu ft bags$2,465

Estimated total$2,465

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

rubber mulch, 0.8 cu ft bags
330 bags × $
$2,465

Materials total$2,465

Bag and bulk prices from the Mulch Pros (GA) list of Oct 22, 2026 and retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your store's.

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Surfacing for a 22×24 ft use zone by material (CPSC Table 2)

Surface	Maintained depth	Protects falls to	Initial fill	Cu yd to order
Wood chips	9 in	10 ft	12 in	19.6
Wood mulch (not CCA-treated)	9 in	7 ft	12 in	19.6
Pea gravel	9 in	5 ft	12 in	19.6
Sand	9 in	4 ft	12 in	19.6
Shredded / recycled rubber	6 in	10 ft	6 in	9.8

How this was worked out

22 ft × 24 ft = 528 sq ft. × 6 in ÷ 12 = 264 cu ft ÷ 27 = 9.78 cu yd.

Fall height is measured from the highest platform a child can stand on. Rubber at 6 in covers up to 10 ft. Mark the 9 in level on a post so you can see when to top up.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main mulch calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Mississippi State University Extension P2301 — Mulches for the Landscape — depths by mulch type (bark 2–3 in, shredded wood 2–4, pine straw 6–8, compost 2–3, rubber 2–4); rake off after 3 years · checked October 2026
MSU Extension — How to mulch — mulch 3–6 ft out from the trunk · checked October 2026
City of Rockville, MD — Say no to mulch volcanoes (May 2026) — 2–3 in deep in a flat ring; keep a 2–3 in gap at the trunk · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros — material weight & coverage (scale weights) — 2,600–2,900 lb per yd³ of stone; 1 yd³ covers 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 at 3 in; pine straw bale ≈ 40 sq ft; single-axle ≈ 5 t, tandem up to 18 t · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros price list (October 22, 2026) — bag and bulk prices for mulch, soil, compost, #57, crush & run, pea gravel, sand; delivery $7/mi ($60 min) · checked October 2026
LawnStarter — mulch prices (updated Oct 5, 2026) — bulk $30–$135 per yd³; delivery $70–$140; 2 cu ft bags $3.25–$6.50 · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — calculator & reference table — DG ~3,000 lb/yd³, mulch 400–800 lb, topsoil 2,000–2,200 lb; order 5–10% extra; base materials up to 15% for compaction · checked October 2026
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) — Table 2 depths and fall heights; loose fill compresses at least 25%; 12 in initial fill for 9 in · checked October 2026
CPSC Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 324) — surfacing at least 6 ft beyond equipment in all directions · checked October 2026

Short answer

A 10×12 ft play set needs 528 sq ft of surfacing; at CPSC's 6 in of shredded rubber that is 9.8 cu yd — 330 bags of 0.8 cu ft.

Use zone: CPSC extends surfacing at least 6 ft past the equipment on every side, so 10×12 becomes 22×24 ft = 528 sq ft.

Depth: CPSC's public handbook rates 6 in of shredded or recycled rubber for falls up to 10 ft.

Cost: 330 bags at about $7.47 is roughly $2,465; rubber doesn't decompose, so it is a one-time fill plus raking.

Swings: for to-and-fro swings CPSC extends the zone in front and behind to twice the top-bar height — an 8 ft swing beam needs 16 ft each way, so add that length.

Compare: the same zone in wood fiber at 12 in would be 19.6 cu yd.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you mulching?

Job

CPSC: loose fill over the equipment footprint plus 6 ft on every side.

Play equipment footprint

Equipment length

= 10' · 3.05 m

Equipment width

= 12' · 3.66 m

We add the 6 ft use zone on every side: 22' × 24' of surfacing.

Mulch & depth

Mulch

Doesn't break down or feed the soil. MSU Extension: 2–4 in in beds; playgrounds need 6 in (CPSC).

Initial fill depth

CPSC: 6 in of shredded rubber.

Exact depth

How you'll buy it

You need

9.8cu yd of rubber mulch

9.78 cu yd (264 cu ft) · 528 sq ft at 6 in · 330 × 0.8 cu ft bags

Cubic yards: 9.78cu yd264 cu ft
Area incl. use zone: 528 sq ft
One 0.8 cu ft bag covers: 1.6sq ftat 6 in
Bags per cubic yard: 33.80.8 cu ft bags

Bags or bulk?

330 × 0.8 cu ft bags

$2,465

materials, before tax

9.78 cu yd delivered

—

no bulk price — add one

Bags work out to $252 per cubic yard. Your plan (bags): $2,465.

How high a fall each surface protects (CPSC)

CPSC Table 2: depth of loose fill and protected fall height
Surface	Depth	Protects falls to
Wood chips	9 in	10 ft
Wood mulch (not CCA-treated)	9 in	7 ft
Pea gravel	9 in	5 ft
Sand	9 in	4 ft
Shredded / recycled rubber	6 in	10 ft

Swings need a longer zone

Pea gravel or sand instead? Use the gravel or sand calculator — CPSC rates 9 in of either for lower falls (5 ft and 4 ft).

Shopping list

330 bags Rubber mulch, 0.8 cu ft bags$2,465

Estimated total$2,465

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

rubber mulch, 0.8 cu ft bags
330 bags × $
$2,465

Materials total$2,465

Bag and bulk prices from the Mulch Pros (GA) list of Oct 22, 2026 and retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your store's.

Surface

Maintained depth

Protects falls to

Initial fill

Cu yd to order

Wood chips

9 in

10 ft

12 in

19.6

Wood mulch (not CCA-treated)

9 in

7 ft

12 in

19.6

Pea gravel

9 in

5 ft

12 in

19.6

Sand

9 in

4 ft

12 in

19.6

Shredded / recycled rubber

6 in

10 ft

6 in

9.8

How this was worked out

22 ft × 24 ft = 528 sq ft. × 6 in ÷ 12 = 264 cu ft ÷ 27 = 9.78 cu yd.

Fall height is measured from the highest platform a child can stand on. Rubber at 6 in covers up to 10 ft. Mark the 9 in level on a post so you can see when to top up.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main mulch calculator page.