Topsoil Calculator

This topsoil calculator tells you how much topsoil you need to fill a garden bed, build up a lawn or level a low spot. Enter the length and width of a rectangle, or the diameter of a circle, plus the depth you want, and it returns the volume in cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters along with a bag count.

Loose soil settles once it is watered and walked on, so the calculator adds a settling allowance that you can change or set to zero. Pick the bag size sold at your store to see how many bags to buy, and switch on the weight estimate if you need to know whether a truck or trailer can carry it.

How to Use the Topsoil Calculator

1
Choose units and shape
Select US (feet and inches) or Metric (meters and centimeters), then choose Rectangle or square, or Circle.
2
Enter the size and depth
Type the length and width, or the diameter, then the depth of topsoil you plan to spread.
3
Set the settling allowance and bag size
Leave the extra at 10% or change it, and pick a bag size of 0.75, 1, 1.5 or 2 cubic feet.
4
Read the results
The calculator shows the volume to order, the area and the number of bags. Turn on Estimate weight to see an approximate weight using the density shown.

How the topsoil calculator works

The area is calculated in square feet: length times width for a rectangle, or pi times the radius squared for a circle. Metric measurements are converted first. The depth in inches is divided by 12 to turn it into feet, and multiplying area by depth gives cubic feet.

The settling allowance is then added, and the result is divided by 27 to get cubic yards, the unit bulk topsoil is sold in. Bags are the cubic feet divided by the bag size, always rounded up to a whole bag. The weight estimate multiplies cubic yards by the density you enter, 2,000 lb per cubic yard by default.

Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size (cu ft), rounded up
Weight (lb) = cubic yards × density (lb per cu yd)

Worked example: a 20 x 10 ft bed, 4 inches deep

For a round bed 8 ft across filled 6 inches deep, the area is 50.3 sq ft. With 10% extra that is 27.6 cubic feet, or 1.02 cubic yards, which is 28 bags of 1 cu ft. At more than two cubic yards, bulk delivery is usually easier than dozens of bags.

Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft.
Volume before settling: 200 × 4 ÷ 12 = 66.7 cubic feet.
Add 10% for settling: 66.7 × 1.10 = 73.3 cubic feet.
Cubic yards: 73.3 ÷ 27 = 2.72 cubic yards (2.08 cubic meters).
Bags: 74 bags of 1 cu ft, or 37 bags of 2 cu ft.
Weight at the default 2,000 lb per cubic yard: about 5,432 lb, or 2.72 tons.

Topsoil coverage by depth

One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to see how far a yard goes. The last two columns show bags for a 100 sq ft area with no settling allowance added.

Depth	One cubic yard covers	Cubic feet per 100 sq ft	1 cu ft bags per 100 sq ft	2 cu ft bags per 100 sq ft
1 in	324 sq ft	8.3	9	5
2 in	162 sq ft	16.7	17	9
3 in	108 sq ft	25	25	13
4 in	81 sq ft	33.3	34	17
6 in	54 sq ft	50	50	25
8 in	40.5 sq ft	66.7	67	34
12 in	27 sq ft	100	100	50

How deep should topsoil be?

Top-dressing an existing lawn: about 1/4 to 1/2 inch at a time, so the grass can grow through it.
New lawn from seed or sod: 4 to 6 inches of good soil gives roots room to establish.
Garden beds for flowers and vegetables: 8 to 12 inches, deeper for raised beds with root crops.
Filling low spots: fill in layers of a few inches, water, and let each layer settle before adding more.

Tips and common mistakes

Measure after digging out sod or debris, not before, so the depth reflects the real space to fill.
Keep some settling allowance. Screened topsoil loosens when it is dug and loaded, then firms back down after rain.
Weight varies a lot with moisture. The 2,000 lb default is a rough figure for fairly dry soil; wet soil is heavier. Check your vehicle payload and the supplier weight ticket rather than relying on the estimate.
Topsoil, garden soil and raised-bed mixes are different products. Bag sizes and blends vary, so match the bag size in the calculator to the one you buy.
Split an odd-shaped yard into rectangles and circles, run each one, and add the results.

Features

Rectangle and circle areas in feet or meters
Cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters
Bag count for 0.75, 1, 1.5 or 2 cu ft bags
Adjustable settling allowance (default 10%)
Optional weight estimate with an editable density

Frequently Asked Questions

How much topsoil do I need for 1,000 square feet?

At 4 inches deep, 1,000 sq ft needs 333.3 cubic feet, which is 12.35 cubic yards. With a 10% settling allowance, order about 13.58 cubic yards. At 6 inches deep with 10% extra it rises to 20.37 cubic yards. For top-dressing a lawn at 1/2 inch, the same area needs only 1.54 cubic yards, or 42 bags of 1 cu ft.

How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?

A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. That equals 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft. Use these figures to compare a bulk price per yard, plus any delivery fee, against the cost of buying the same volume in bags.

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

It depends mainly on moisture and how much organic matter the soil contains. Fairly dry, loose topsoil is often quoted at around 2,000 lb, or about a ton, per cubic yard, which is the default in this calculator. Damp soil can weigh well over that. Treat any weight figure as a rough guide and check with your supplier.

How many square feet does a yard of topsoil cover?

Divide 324 by the depth in inches. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches and 54 sq ft at 6 inches. Those figures are for the exact volume; if you add a settling allowance, each yard effectively covers a little less.

Should I order extra topsoil for settling?

Usually yes. Topsoil is fluffed up when it is screened, dug and delivered, and it firms back down after watering and foot traffic. This calculator adds 10% by default. Use more if you are filling a deep bed that will be compacted, or set it to 0 if you want only the exact volume of the space.

How do I calculate topsoil for a raised bed?

Measure the inside length and width of the bed and the depth you plan to fill, then enter them in the calculator. An 8 x 4 ft bed filled 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet, about 1.19 cubic yards. With 10% extra that is 35.2 cubic feet, or 36 bags of 1 cu ft. Many gardeners use a raised-bed mix rather than plain topsoil.

Last reviewed September 21, 2026