Basic
$0.70 – $1.35 per sq ft
3 in. layer of natural shredded hardwood mulch spread over existing beds, kept off stems and trunks, edges raked neat

Mulch: national installed price range, materials and labor breakdown, and local pricing by ZIP code.
Mulch in Chicago, Illinois typically costs $0.83 to $1.59 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.
Prices in Chicago are 19.0% higher than the national average for mulch.
National average: $0.72 – $1.38 per sq ft
$0.70 – $1.35 per sq ft
3 in. layer of natural shredded hardwood mulch spread over existing beds, kept off stems and trunks, edges raked neat
$0.83 – $1.59 per sq ft
3 in. layer of dyed brown double-shredded hardwood mulch spread over weeded beds, kept off stems and trunks, edges raked neat
$1.03 – $1.98 per sq ft
3 in. layer of pine bark nuggets over weeded beds, kept off stems and trunks, spade-cut bed edges
| Component | Category | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $0.34 – $0.66 | sq ft |
| Labor | labor | $0.33 – $0.62 | sq ft |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $0.10 – $0.18 | sq ft |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $0.06 – $0.12 | sq ft |
Labor costs in Chicago run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.
BuildX Pro researches and reviews the national price range for Mulch, then adjusts it to your ZIP code for local labor and material costs using the public data below. Last checked Sep 2026.
Connect with local mulch contractors in Chicago for personalized quotes based on your specific project.