Topsoil Calculator
Enter the bed or lawn area and how deep the new soil should be. You get bulk yards, an approximate weight, and bag counts.
Topsoil needed 0.99 cu yd 26.7 cu ft · about 1.09 tons
- 0.75 cu ft bags (≈ 40 lb)
- 36
- 1 cu ft bags
- 27
How deep should topsoil be?
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| Top-dressing an existing lawn | ¼–½ in |
| Seeding or sodding a new lawn | 4–6 in |
| Flower beds | 8–12 in |
| Vegetable beds and raised beds | 10–12 in |
The math
Cubic yards = length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Example: one 4 × 8 ft raised bed filled 10 in deep holds 26.7 cu ft. That is 0.99 yd³, or 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft. Several beds usually make a bulk delivery cheaper than bags.
The weight assumes about 1.1 tons per cubic yard for dry, loose topsoil. Wet soil can weigh half as much again. That matters if you haul it yourself: check the payload rating on the door sticker before loading a pickup, because one yard can exceed what a half-ton truck may carry.
Fresh soil settles 15–20 % in the first season, especially in raised beds. Overfill slightly or plan to top up.