Topsoil Calculator
Calculate how much topsoil you need for your garden, lawn, or raised bed.
Get results in cubic yards, tons, and number of bags.
Topsoil Volume Formula:
Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) / 12
Volume (cu yd) = Volume (cu ft) / 27
What each variable means:
- Length and Width — the dimensions of your area in feet. For metric users, 1 meter = 3.28 feet.
- Depth — how thick the soil layer should be, entered in inches. Divide by 12 to convert to feet for the volume calculation.
When to use this calculator: Use it any time you need to buy topsoil for landscaping, gardening, or construction. Knowing the exact volume prevents over-buying (wasting money) or under-buying (making extra trips).
Practical example: You have a raised garden bed that is 10 ft long, 4 ft wide, and you want 6 inches of topsoil. Volume = 10 × 4 × 6 / 12 = 20 cubic feet, which is 20 / 27 = 0.74 cubic yards. At roughly 1.1 tons per cubic yard, that weighs about 0.81 tons (1,620 lbs). You would need 20 standard 1-cubic-foot bags or 10 large 2-cubic-foot bags.
Recommended depths:
- New lawn: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm)
- Over-seeding existing lawn: 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm)
- Raised garden bed: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm)
- Flower beds: 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm)
- Topdressing: 0.5–1 inch (1–2.5 cm)
Weight estimates: 1 cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 1.0–1.3 tons (2,000–2,600 lbs or 900–1,180 kg). Weight varies by moisture content — wet soil is significantly heavier.
Tips: Always order 10% extra to account for settling, uneven ground, and spillage. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bagged soil, but bags are easier for small projects. Standard bags are 1 cubic foot (~40 lbs / 18 kg) and large bags are 2 cubic feet (~75 lbs / 34 kg).