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Mulch Film Requirement Calculator

Work out mulch film requirement instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Mulch Film Requirement Calculator

Plastic mulch is sold by weight, so the covered area must be converted through thickness and polythene density of about 920 kg/m3: weight = area x thickness in metres x 920. A 5% allowance covers tucking film into the trench at bed edges and ends.

Formula

Film weight

Area = bed length x film width x 1.05; weight (kg) = area x thickness (micron) / 1,000,000 x 920

Worked example

With the default values below, Mulch Film Requirement Calculator returns Mulch Film Required of 57.96. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Total Bed Lengthminimum 0.1 m
2,000 m
Film Widthminimum 0.1 m
1.2 m
Film Thicknessminimum 5 micron
25 micron
Film Priceminimum 0 per kg
220 per kg

Results

Mulch Film Required
57.96
Film Area Including Overlap
2,520.00
Film Cost
$12,751.20
Cost Per Metre Of Bed
$6.376

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Film weight
  3. 3Mulch Film Required= 57.96
  4. 4Film Area Including Overlap= 2,520.00
  5. 5Film Cost= 12,751.20
  6. 6Cost Per Metre Of Bed= 6.376

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Used agricultural plastic film must be collected and disposed of through an authorised recycler. Burning it in the field releases toxic emissions and is illegal in most jurisdictions.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Used agricultural plastic film must be collected and disposed of through an authorised recycler. Burning it in the field releases toxic emissions and is illegal in most jurisdictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What thickness should I use?

25-30 micron for a single short crop, 50 micron where the film must survive a long-duration crop or two seasons. Thinner film is cheaper per square metre but tears during laying and weeding.

Silver-black or black film?

Silver-black reflects light and repels aphids and thrips, useful in vegetables. Plain black warms soil more and suppresses weeds at lower cost.

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