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Topsoil Calculator

Topsoil volume in cubic yards, tons or bags.

Your measurementsEvery assumption editable01

4–6 in for a new lawn, 8–12 in for a vegetable bed.

Screened topsoil runs about 1.1 tons per cubic yard dry, more when wet.

Bagged topsoil is commonly 0.75 or 1 cu ft.

Topsoil requiredCalculated live02

Result

7.41cu yd

7.41 cubic yards — about 8.15 tons

Area to cover30 ft × 20 ft
600 sq ft
Volume requiredat 4 in deep
200 cu ft
In cubic yards
7.41 cu yd
Approximate weightat 1.1 tons per cubic yard
8.15 tons
Bagsbagged soil is rarely economic past a few cubic feet
267 × 0.75 cu ft

Topsoil settles substantially. Freshly spread soil can lose an inch or more of depth once it is watered and walked on, so order for the depth you want after settling rather than the depth you spread.

Bagged topsoil is dramatically more expensive per cubic yard than bulk. Past roughly half a cubic yard — about 18 three-quarter-foot bags — a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper even after the delivery charge.

Screened topsoil, garden soil and compost are different products at different prices. This calculates volume; which product suits the job is a separate question.

Enter the area and the depth you want and it returns volume, weight and a bag count. Topsoil settles substantially once watered, so the depth you spread and the depth you end up with are not the same number.

Why use this tool?What it does differently03

Why use this tool?

Volume and weight

Suppliers quote in cubic yards or tons depending on the region. Both figures are given so you can order either way.

Depth guidance

4–6 inches for a new lawn, 8–12 for a vegetable bed. Stated beside the field rather than buried in the copy.

Adjustable density

Screened topsoil runs about 1.1 tons per cubic yard dry and considerably more wet.

Honest about bags

The bag count is shown, along with the point past which bagged soil stops being economic.

How this worksThe method04

How this topsoil calculator works

Area times depth in feet gives cubic feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards. Weight follows from the density figure, and the bag count from the bag size you enter.

No waste allowance is applied, because soil is spread rather than cut and nothing is lost to offcuts. What does happen is settling, which is a different thing — freshly spread soil compacts under watering and foot traffic and can lose an inch or more of depth.

The bag figure is included mainly to show how quickly it stops making sense. At three-quarters of a cubic foot per bag, a single cubic yard is 36 bags, and the price per yard bagged is typically several times the bulk rate.

How to use itStep by step05

How to use it

  1. Step 1: Measure the area

    Length and width of the beds or lawn area. Break irregular shapes into rectangles.

  2. Step 2: Choose the depth

    Four to six inches for a new lawn, eight to twelve for a raised vegetable bed, one to two for a top dressing.

  3. Step 3: Allow for settling

    Order for the depth you want after watering, not the depth you spread. Adding an inch to the target is a reasonable rule.

  4. Step 4: Compare bulk against bags

    Past roughly half a cubic yard, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper even after the delivery charge.

Example usageWorked figures06

Example usage

A 30 by 20 lawn area
600 square feet at 4 inches is 200 cubic feet, or 7.41 cubic yards — about 8 tons. That is 267 bags, which is why nobody bags a lawn.
A raised vegetable bed
An 8 by 4 bed at 12 inches deep is 32 cubic feet, or 1.19 cubic yards. Around 43 bags, or a small bulk delivery if you have somewhere to tip it.
Top dressing an existing lawn
The same 600 square foot lawn at half an inch is 25 cubic feet, under a cubic yard. Bags are genuinely reasonable at this scale.
Frequently asked questionsCommon questions07

Frequently asked questions

How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?

Four to six inches of good topsoil over the subsoil is the usual recommendation. For 1,000 square feet at 4 inches that is about 12.3 cubic yards, or roughly 13.5 tons.

How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?

About 36 bags at three-quarters of a cubic foot each, or 27 at a full cubic foot. The price difference against bulk at that volume is usually large enough to settle the question.

Does topsoil settle?

Substantially. Freshly spread soil compacts under watering and traffic and can lose an inch or more of its spread depth. Order for the finished depth you want rather than the depth you lay.

What is the difference between topsoil, garden soil and compost?

Topsoil is screened mineral soil and is the bulk filler. Garden soil is topsoil with organic matter blended in. Compost is decomposed organic matter and is a soil improver rather than a fill. This calculates volume; which product suits the job is separate.

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

Around 1.1 tons for screened topsoil when dry, rising well above that when wet. If you are ordering by weight rather than volume, ask the supplier what moisture state their figure assumes.

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