Topsoil Calculator
Work out how many cubic yards, tons or bags of topsoil to order for a new lawn, garden bed, raised bed or leveling job.
- Area
- Cubic feet
- Cubic meters
- Weight
- Bags
- Cost
- Add a price to estimate
Beds and Areas
Areas you add are saved in this browser.
| Area | Size | Depth | Cubic Yards | Tons | Cost | Remove |
|---|
How to Calculate Topsoil
Measure the area in feet and decide how deep the soil needs to be in inches. Multiply length × width × depth ÷ 12 for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Topsoil is usually sold by the cubic yard in bulk, or in bags by the cubic foot.
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard (3 × 3 × 3). For a circle, the area is 3.1416 × diameter² ÷ 4; for a triangle, base × height ÷ 2.
Worked Example
Topsoil Weights
| Name | Lb. per Cubic Yard | Tons per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil, dry | 2,100 | 1.05 | Loose, dry screened topsoil |
| Topsoil, wet | 2,850 | 1.43 | Damp soil after rain |
| Garden soil or compost blend | 1,600 | 0.80 | Lighter blends with compost; check with supplier |
How Far a Cubic Yard Goes
| Depth | One Cubic Yard Covers | Needed per 100 Sq. Ft. |
|---|
Tips for Topsoil
Soil settles after it's spread and watered, so fill beds a little high or order extra. For raised beds, a blend of topsoil and compost is lighter and drains better than straight topsoil.
Bulk topsoil is much cheaper than bags for anything over a cubic yard or so. A cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs about a ton, so check what your truck or trailer can carry.