Topsoil Calculator
Work out how much topsoil to order for gardens, lawns, and raised beds, in cubic yards and bags. Enter the bed area and the depth you want to add (2–3 inches for overseeding, 6–12 inches for new beds) to get volume and an estimated delivery weight.
Topsoil Depth Diagram
How the Formula Works
Convert depth to feet
Depth (ft) = Depth (in) ÷ 12 All dimensions must share the same unit before multiplying
Calculate volume in cubic feet
Volume (ft³) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) Convert to cubic yards
Volume (yd³) = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27 Topsoil is typically sold by the cubic yard in the US
Calculate weight in tons
Tons = Cubic Yards × Density Screened topsoil weighs approximately 2,200 lbs per cubic yard (1.1 short tons)
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply the length × width × depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For a 10 × 10 ft garden bed at 6-inch depth: 10 × 10 × 0.5 = 50 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³. Most landscapers round up to the nearest half-yard. The calculator above handles the math — just enter your dimensions.
Recommended depths: lawn establishment or overseeding 4–6 inches (100–150 mm), vegetable and flower garden beds 8–12 inches (200–300 mm), raised beds 12–18 inches (300–450 mm), lawn topdressing 1–2 inches (25–50 mm). Deeper topsoil produces better root development and retains moisture longer, but increases material cost. For most lawn projects, 4–6 inches is the sweet spot.
For a standard 4 × 8 ft raised garden bed at 12-inch depth: 4 × 8 × 1 = 32 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.19 yd³ — order 1.5 yards to account for settling. For a 10 × 20 ft garden at 8-inch depth: 10 × 20 × 0.667 = 133 ft³ ÷ 27 = 4.9 yd³ — order 5 yards. Enter your exact dimensions in the calculator above for a precise estimate.
Screened, loose topsoil weighs approximately 1,800–2,200 lbs per cubic yard (about 1.0–1.1 US short tons). Clay-heavy soils weigh more — up to 2,500 lbs/yd³ (1.25 tons). Sandy loam is lighter — around 1,600 lbs/yd³ (0.8 tons). This calculator uses 1.1 tons per cubic yard as a standard estimate for screened topsoil.
A standard 40 lb bag of topsoil contains about 0.75 cubic feet. One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so you need 27 ÷ 0.75 = 36 bags per cubic yard. A 1-cubic-foot bag takes 27 bags per yard. For small projects, bagged topsoil is convenient; for anything over 2–3 cubic yards, ordering bulk topsoil by the truckload is significantly cheaper.
For a new lawn, apply 4–6 inches of topsoil over the entire area. For a 1,000 sq ft lawn at 4-inch depth: 1,000 × (4/12) = 333 ft³ ÷ 27 = 12.3 yd³. For overseeding or topdressing an existing lawn, 1–2 inches is sufficient: 1,000 × (1.5/12) = 125 ft³ ÷ 27 = 4.6 yd³. Use the calculator above and set your area dimensions accordingly.
Topsoil is the upper 2–8 inches of native soil, screened to remove rocks and debris. It contains mineral particles but may have low organic matter. Garden soil is a blend of topsoil, compost, and other organic amendments formulated for planting — it has higher nutrient content and better drainage. For filling a new bed or building grade, use bulk topsoil. For planting, mix topsoil with 25–30% compost.
Bulk topsoil costs $12–$55 per cubic yard depending on quality, screened vs. unscreened, and region. Screened topsoil runs $20–$35/yd³; premium blended garden soil $35–$55/yd³. Delivery adds $50–$150. A 40 lb bag at a garden centre runs $3–$8 (equivalent to $80–$200+ per cubic yard). Use the cost estimator in the calculator above to see your project cost at your local price.