How to calculate topsoil
Topsoil is sold by volume: cubic yards in bulk and cubic feet in bags. Multiply the area by the depth to get cubic feet, add a little for settling, then divide by 27 for cubic yards or by your bag size for the number of bags.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size (cu ft), rounded up
Approximate tons = cubic yards × 1.1 (range about 1.0–1.35)
Worked example: a 25 × 20 ft lawn area, 4 in. deep
- Area: 25 × 20 = 500 sq ft.
- Volume: 500 × 4 ÷ 12 = 166.7 cu ft.
- Add 10% for settling: 166.7 × 1.10 = 183.3 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 183.3 ÷ 27 = 6.79 cu yd.
- Weight: about 6.79 × 1.1 = 7.5 tons (anywhere from about 6.8 to 9.2 tons depending on moisture).
In 0.75 cu ft bags, that is 245 bags, so a job this size is a bulk delivery.
Worked example: a 4 × 8 ft raised bed, filled 10 in. deep
For raised beds, use the inside length and width of the frame and the depth you plan to fill, usually an inch or two below the top. A 4 × 8 bed is 32 sq ft. At 10 in.: 32 × 10 ÷ 12 = 26.7 cu ft. With 10% for settling, that is 29.3 cu ft, or about 1.09 cubic yards. In bags, you need 40 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 15 bags of 2 cu ft. Use the Number of beds box if you are building several of the same size.
How much topsoil do you need for your project?
| Project | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Top-dressing an existing lawn | 1/4–1/2 in. |
| Filling shallow low spots in a lawn | Up to about 1/2 in. at a time, repeated as the grass grows through |
| New lawn from seed or sod | 4–6 in. |
| New in-ground garden bed | 6–8 in., or 2–4 in. tilled into the existing soil |
| Raised bed | The full fill depth of the bed, often 6–12 in. |
| Over existing tree roots | No more than an inch or two; deeper fill can starve roots of air |
Thin layers add up fast over big areas. Top-dressing 1,000 sq ft at 1/4 in. takes about 0.77 cubic yards; at 1/2 in. it takes about 1.54 cubic yards.
How much does a yard of topsoil cover?
A cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in. deep. Divide 324 by the depth in inches for any other depth.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 1/4 in. | 1,296 sq ft |
| 1/2 in. | 648 sq ft |
| 1 in. | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in. | 162 sq ft |
| 4 in. | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in. | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in. | 27 sq ft |
Bags of topsoil per cubic yard
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Bags for 100 sq ft at 2 in. |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 | 23 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 | 17 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 | 12 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 | 9 |
Bagged products labeled "topsoil," "garden soil" and "raised bed mix" are not the same thing. Basic bagged topsoil is mainly for filling and leveling. Garden soil and raised bed mixes generally have more compost or other organic matter blended in, which is what you want for growing vegetables and flowers. Many gardeners fill raised beds with a blend of topsoil and compost rather than straight topsoil.
How much does topsoil weigh?
A cubic yard of topsoil typically weighs about 1 to 1.35 tons (2,000 to 2,700 lb). Dry, screened soil sits at the low end; soil that has been rained on can be much heavier. The calculator uses about 1.1 tons per yard for its estimate and shows the range. Weight matters for two reasons: some suppliers sell soil by the ton, and a pickup truck's payload limit, not the size of its bed, is usually what caps how much soil you can haul. Many half-ton pickups are not rated to carry a full cubic yard of wet soil, so check your truck's payload rating (on the driver's door jamb sticker) before you load up.
Tips for buying and spreading topsoil
- Ask for screened topsoil. Screening removes rocks, roots and clods, which makes spreading and grading much easier.
- Ask where it comes from. A reputable yard can tell you the source and whether the soil is blended with compost. Look at a sample if you can; good topsoil is dark, crumbly and free of trash and weed roots.
- Plan your wheelbarrow trips. A full 6 cu ft wheelbarrow of soil is too heavy for most people. Filling it about halfway means roughly 9 trips per cubic yard.
- Grade away from the house. Building codes generally require the ground to fall at least 6 in. within the first 10 ft from the foundation, and wood siding usually needs about 6 in. of clearance above the soil.
- Finish the job. After the soil is down, use the sod calculator for a new lawn or the mulch calculator for beds. For any other bulk material, try the cubic yards calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much area does a yard of topsoil cover?
One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in. deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in., 81 sq ft at 4 in., or 54 sq ft at 6 in. Divide 324 by your depth in inches.
How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft topsoil, 27 bags of 1 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Typically about 1 to 1.35 tons (2,000 to 2,700 lb). Dry soil is at the low end of that range; wet soil is at the high end and can weigh even more.
How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?
Plan on 4–6 in. of topsoil. For 1,000 sq ft, that is about 12.3 cubic yards at 4 in. or 18.5 cubic yards at 6 in., before any settling allowance.
How much soil do I need for a 4×8 raised bed?
A 4 × 8 ft bed filled 10 in. deep holds about 26.7 cubic feet, or roughly 1 cubic yard. Add about 10% for settling, which comes to 40 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 15 bags of 2 cu ft. Fill it with a raised bed mix or a topsoil and compost blend rather than plain topsoil.
Is it cheaper to buy topsoil in bags or in bulk?
For more than about a cubic yard, bulk is usually cheaper per yard, even after a delivery fee. Bags make sense for small beds, patching and places a truck can't reach. Enter both prices in the calculator to compare.