Topsoil Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and bags of topsoil or garden soil needed for lawns, raised beds, and landscaping. 100% free, private browser calculation.
Rectangle / Bed / Lawn Dimensions
Standard rectangular lawn sections, raised garden beds, or trench fills.
Material Blend & Settling Allowance
Topsoil Volume & Estimated Weight
At 2.13 cu yd (over 2 cu yd / ~77 bags), buying bulk by the cubic yard delivered from a local landscape yard is typically 50% to 70% cheaper than purchasing individual plastic bags.
Bag Count Comparison
| Bag Size | Volume | Bags Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 cu ft Bag | 1 cu ft | 58 |
| 0.75 cu ft Bag (40 lb)Selected | 0.75 cu ft | 77 |
| 1.5 cu ft Bag | 1.5 cu ft | 39 |
| 2.0 cu ft Bag | 2 cu ft | 29 |
How to Calculate How Much Topsoil You Need
Whether you are establishing a brand-new lawn from seed, preparing ground for unrolling fresh sod, filling raised garden planter boxes, or top-dressing an uneven lawn, getting the correct volume of topsoil is essential. Under-ordering leaves you with shallow root zones and exposed tree roots, while over-ordering leaves you with an unmanageable pile of dirt blocking your driveway.
Bulk topsoil is universally measured and sold in cubic yards (often referred to simply as "yards"). One cubic yard is a volume measuring 3 feet wide by 3 feet long by 3 feet high, equaling 27 cubic feet. For smaller gardening projects, bagged topsoil and garden blends are sold by the cubic foot (typically 0.75 cu ft or 1.0 cu ft bags).
The Topsoil Formula
Because garden beds and lawn areas are measured in feet while soil depth is measured in inches, calculating cubic yards requires converting inches to feet before dividing by 27:
Formula for Rectangular Beds:
Cubic Yards = [Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Depth in inches ÷ 12)] ÷ 27
Formula for Circular Planters:
Cubic Yards = [π × (Diameter in ft ÷ 2)² × (Depth in inches ÷ 12)] ÷ 27
Worked Example: A 20-foot by 10-foot lawn section needing 3 inches of topsoil:
- Area = 20 × 10 = 200 square feet
- Depth in feet = 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet
- Raw Volume = 200 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet
- Divided by 27 = 1.85 cubic yards
- With 15% settling allowance (+7.5 cu ft) = 57.5 cu ft = 2.13 cubic yards
Recommended Topsoil Depths by Project Type
Using the wrong soil depth can choke existing grass or starve root systems:
| Project Application | Recommended Depth | Application Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn Top-Dressing | 1/4″ to 1/2″ (0.25–0.5 in) | Broadcast thinly over established turf to fill minor dips. Deeper than 1/2 inch risks smothering grass crowns. |
| New Sod Underlayment | 2″ to 3″ | Spread over graded subsoil and rolled lightly before laying sod rolls to give root mesh immediate moisture. |
| New Lawn from Seed | 4″ to 6″ | Adequate loose, weed-screened organic soil for deep, drought-resilient grassroots. |
| Flower Beds & Borders | 6″ to 8″ | Provides root room for perennials, seasonal annuals, and small ornamental shrubs. |
| Raised Vegetable Beds | 10″ to 12″ | Critical depth for taproots and deep-rooting vegetable plants (carrots, tomatoes, potatoes). |
Why Compaction and Settling Must Be Factored In
When topsoil is scooped, screened, and loaded into a dump truck or bag, it is aerated and loose. Once spread into your garden bed and saturated with water or rain, micro-air pockets collapse.
Standard screened loam naturally settles by 10% to 15%. Fluffy compost-rich garden blends (50/50 soil and peat/compost) can settle by up to 20%. If you order the exact geometric volume, your raised bed or lawn will finish 1/2 to 1 inch below the rim after the first thorough watering. Our calculator defaults to a 15% settling margin to ensure your finished grade matches your target height.
Bulk Delivery vs. Store-Bought Bags: The Real Cost
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If you buy standard 0.75 cu ft bags at a home improvement store, you need 36 bags to equal one single cubic yard.
- Small Jobs (< 1.5 to 2 cubic yards / < 50 bags): Bagged soil is convenient. You can transport 10–15 bags in an SUV trunk, store them neatly in a garage, and open them as needed without ruining your lawn or driveway.
- Medium & Large Jobs (≥ 2 cubic yards): Bulk delivery is dramatically more economical. Bagged soil costs $3.50–$5.00 per bag, meaning one cubic yard in bags costs $130–$180. A cubic yard of bulk screened topsoil delivered from a local landscape yard typically costs $30–$50 per yard plus a flat delivery fee ($40–$80). On a 4-yard project, bulk delivery saves over $350.
Driveway Delivery Tip
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