Topsoil Calculator
Calculate the volume of topsoil, garden soil, or compost needed in bulk cubic yards, weight in tons, and retail store bag counts for lawns and garden beds.
Calculation Results
Total cubic yards for bulk nursery/landscape yard ordering.
Total volume measured in cubic feet.
Number of standard 1 cubic foot bags from garden centers.
Number of 2 cubic foot large soil sacks.
Total weight in tons (clean screened loam ~2,200 lbs/cu yd).
How This Calculator Works
Plan your garden or lawn soil purchase with these simple steps:
- Measure the Bed: Enter length and width of the garden area or lawn section.
- Choose Depth: Use the depth guide (0.5" for lawn topdressing, 4" for new sod, 10" for raised vegetable beds) or enter a custom depth.
- Select Buying Method: For small jobs (<1 cubic yard), buy retail 1 or 2 cubic foot bags. For large jobs (>2 cubic yards), bulk delivery by the dump truck is far more cost-effective.
Formula & Calculations
Topsoil calculations convert area and application depth into cubic volume, factoring in natural settling after initial watering:
1. Volumetric Formula
Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
Cubic Yards = Volume (cu ft) / 27
2. Natural Soil Settling Buffer
Screened bulk topsoil contains loose air voids. When you spread and irrigate soil, gravity and moisture consolidate the particles, reducing layer depth by 10% to 15%. A 12% settling allowance is standard.
3. Recommended Application Depths
- Lawn Topdressing: 1/4" to 1/2" brushed over existing aerated grass.
- New Lawn Sod / Hydroseed: 3" to 4" layer over native subgrade.
- Flower & Shrub Beds: 4" to 6" of rich loam mixed with compost.
- Raised Vegetable Garden Beds: 8" to 12" depth for deep root growth.
Step-by-Step Calculation Examples
Raised Vegetable Garden Bed (20ft x 10ft x 8in)
Filling a raised garden bed with premium screened topsoil and 12% settling factor.
- length: 20
- width: 10
- depth: 8
- depth_preset: custom
- waste: 12
- volume_cu_yd: 5.53 cu yd
- volume_cu_ft: 149.3 cu ft
- bags_1cuft: 150
- bags_2cuft: 75
- weight_tons: 6.08 ton
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
Because one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, it takes exactly twenty-seven 1-cubic-foot bags, or fourteen 2-cubic-foot bags (13.5 bags rounded up) to equal one cubic yard.
Is it cheaper to buy bagged soil or bulk topsoil delivered?
If you need more than 2 cubic yards (approx. 54 one-cubic-foot bags), ordering bulk topsoil delivered by a dump truck is almost always 40% to 60% cheaper than buying individual plastic bags at retail home improvement stores.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
A minimum depth of 3 to 4 inches of healthy screened topsoil is recommended before laying sod or spreading grass seed. For rocky or heavy clay subsoil, 6 inches is ideal to promote deep root development and drought tolerance.
What is screened topsoil?
Screened topsoil has been mechanically passed through a 1/2-inch or 3/8-inch mesh screen to remove large rocks, sticks, tree roots, and hard clay clods, leaving a smooth, friable loam that is easy to rake and level.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
A cubic yard of dry screened topsoil weighs approximately 2,000 to 2,200 pounds (approx. 1.0 to 1.1 tons). If saturated with rain, the weight can increase to 2,600 pounds or more.
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?
Topsoil is the natural upper crust of earth (sand, silt, clay, and modest organic matter). Garden soil is an engineered blend of topsoil, peat moss, perlite, aged bark, and rich organic compost designed specifically to boost moisture retention and nutrition for garden vegetables and flowers.