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Topsoil Calculator

Calculate cubic yards and bags of topsoil required for garden beds and lawns based on area, depth, and compaction.

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How to Use the Topsoil Calculator – Cubic Yards & Bag Estimator

1Enter the length and width of your garden bed or lawn area in feet.
2Enter the desired soil depth in inches (standard is 2 to 4 inches for topdressing, 6 to 12 inches for raised beds).
3Optionally adjust the compaction / settling allowance (standard is 10% to 15%).
4Read the total cubic yards for bulk truck delivery and the number of 1 cu ft or 2 cu ft bagged soil sacks needed.

Formula & How It Works

Topsoil Volume & Compaction Formulas

Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × (Depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27) × (1 + Compaction%)

Volume in cubic feet equals Area (Length × Width) multiplied by Depth in feet (Inches ÷ 12). Cubic yards equal Cubic Feet divided by 27. When soil settles and compacts after watering, volume shrinks by 10-15%, which is added to the order quantity.

Worked Examples

Raised Vegetable Garden Bed

Input: 20 ft long, 10 ft wide, 3 inches deep, 10% compaction

Explanation: Area = 200 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 50 cu ft. With 10% compaction = 55 cu ft ÷ 27 = 2.04 cubic yards (order 2 to 2.5 yards).

Result: 2.04 Cubic Yards (Exact: 2.04 cu yd, 55.0 cu ft, ~2.45 tons)

Lawn Reseeding Topdress

Input: 50 ft long, 30 ft wide, 1 inch depth, 10% compaction

Explanation: 1,500 sq ft × (1/12 ft) = 125 cu ft × 1.1 compaction = 137.5 cu ft ÷ 27 = 5.1 cubic yards.

Result: 5.10 Cubic Yards (137.5 cu ft, ~6.11 tons)

Flower Border Bed with Bagged Soil

Input: 16 ft long, 4 ft wide, 4 inches deep, 10% compaction

Explanation: 64 sq ft × (1/3 ft) = 21.33 cu ft × 1.1 = 23.47 cu ft. Requires 24 1-cubic-foot store bags or 12 2-cubic-foot bags.

Result: 0.87 Cubic Yards (23.5 cu ft → 24 bags of 1 cu ft soil)

Deep Raised Planter Box

Input: 8 ft long, 4 ft wide, 12 inches (1 ft) deep, 10% compaction

Explanation: 32 sq ft × 1 ft depth = 32 cu ft × 1.1 compaction = 35.2 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.30 cubic yards.

Result: 1.30 Cubic Yards (35.2 cu ft, ~1.56 tons)

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should topsoil be for a healthy lawn?▼

A minimum of 4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil is recommended under new sod or grass seed. For topdressing established turf, 1/4 to 1/2 inch is ideal.

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?▼

Dry topsoil weighs approximately 2,000 to 2,200 lbs (~1.0 to 1.1 tons) per cubic yard. Moist or dense soil can weigh up to 2,700 lbs (~1.35 tons).

Should I buy bulk cubic yards or bagged soil?▼

For projects requiring more than 1 cubic yard (27 cubic feet / 27 bags), bulk delivery from a local landscape supply yard is usually 50% cheaper and eliminates plastic packaging waste.

Why do I need to factor in compaction?▼

Freshly tilled or dumped soil contains air pockets. Once rained on or tamped down, soil volume typically compresses by 10% to 20%.

How many bags of soil are in one cubic yard?▼

One cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. Therefore, you need 27 bags of 1 cu ft soil, or 13.5 (14) bags of 2 cu ft soil.

Does this tool work completely offline in my browser?▼

Yes, all calculation formulas run locally in your web browser with zero server latency.

Last reviewed & updated: 2026-11-01

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