Topsoil Calculator

How much topsoil or garden soil you need in cubic yards, bags and tons for a lawn, raised bed or garden, with waste and cost.

New lawns commonly get 4–6 in; raised beds are filled to their full height.
%
Loose soil settles after watering; 10–20% extra is common.
Used only for the weight estimate. NRCS: a medium-textured (silt loam) soil with ~50% pore space is about 1.33 g/cm³; moist soil weighs more.
$per yd³
Your rate is remembered on this device.
Topsoil needed
2.716
Or 0.75 ft³ bags
98 bags
Approximate weight
3.04
Estimated bulk cost
$95.06
Excludes delivery.

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/topsoil-calculator/. For informational purposes only; verify before relying on it.

Estimate only. This tool is for informational and educational purposes. Results depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions, and are not a substitute for professional engineering, design or financial advice. Always verify with a qualified professional and applicable codes before purchasing, building or making decisions.

How it’s calculated

Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × (1 + waste%) Bags = ⌈ cubic feet ÷ bag size (ft³) ⌉

Example: a 20 ft × 10 ft area, 4 in deep = 200 × (4/12) = 66.67 ft³ = 2.47 yd³. With 10% for settling: 2.72 yd³ (73.3 ft³), or ⌈73.3 ÷ 0.75⌉ = 98 bags of 0.75 ft³. At 1.33 t/m³ it weighs about 3 US tons.

Bulk soil is sold by the cubic yard; a typical pickup bed holds roughly 1–2 yd³ depending on size and weight limit.

Frequently asked questions

How much topsoil do I need?

Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 to get cubic yards (324 = 12 × 27). Add 10–20% for settling.

How many bags of soil make a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is 27 ft³: 36 bags of 0.75 ft³, 27 bags of 1 ft³, 18 bags of 1.5 ft³ or 13.5 bags of 2 ft³.

How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?

Roughly 1 to 1.5 US tons depending on texture, organic matter and moisture. At 1.33 g/cm³ it is about 2,240 lb.

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Sources

Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.

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