Topsoil Calculator: Cubic Yards, Bags and Tons
This topsoil calculator tells you how much soil to buy for a new lawn, raised bed or low spot. Enter the length and width in feet (or the total square feet) and the depth in inches, and it returns cubic yards for a bulk delivery, the number of 0.75 or 1 cubic foot bags for small jobs, and the weight in tons. Add a compaction allowance, because loose soil settles by about 10% to 20%, and enter a price to compare bulk against bagged topsoil.
Topsoil Calculator
Find how much topsoil you need for a lawn, garden bed or fill in cubic yards, bags and tons.
How to use the Topsoil Calculator
- Enter length and width in feet, or total square feet.
- Enter the depth in inches.
- Set a settling allowance and bag size.
- Read cubic yards, bags, tons and cost.
Topsoil formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × (1 + settling %)
Features
- Cubic yards and cubic feet
- Bags of any size
- Weight in tons
- Bulk vs bag cost
Frequently asked questions
How much topsoil do I need?
Multiply area in square feet by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 × 10 ft bed 4 inches deep needs 200 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft or about 14 bags of 2 cu ft.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
About 1 to 1.4 tons (2,000 to 2,800 lb), depending on moisture. Wet soil is heavier.
How deep should topsoil be?
Use 1 to 2 inches to level a lawn, 4 to 6 inches for new sod or seed, and 8 to 12 inches for garden beds.
Should I add extra for settling?
Yes. Loose topsoil settles 10% to 20% after watering, so order a little extra for fills and raised beds.