Topsoil Calculator
Updated 2026-10-14
Enter the area and the depth of soil you want to add. The calculator gives the volume to order, its approximate weight, and the number of bags, with an allowance for the soil settling.
How the topsoil calculator works
Topsoil is ordered by volume, so the calculation is the area multiplied by the depth. Depth is entered in inches or centimeters and converted to feet or meters first. Freshly delivered soil is loose and full of air, and it settles once it's raked, rolled and watered, so the calculator adds a settling allowance to make sure you end up with the depth you want.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up
Worked example
To lay 4 inches of topsoil over a 20 × 10 ft area for a new lawn, you need 200 × 4 ÷ 12 = 66.7 cubic feet. Adding 10% for settling makes 73.3 cubic feet, which is 2.72 cubic yards. That weighs roughly 3 to 3.8 tons, depending on how wet it is. In 0.75 cubic foot bags it would be 98 bags, so a bulk delivery makes much more sense.
How deep should topsoil be?
| Job | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Top dressing an existing lawn | 1/4–1/2 in (0.5–1 cm), spread thinly |
| Filling low spots and leveling a lawn | Up to 2 in (5 cm) at a time |
| New lawn from seed or sod | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) |
| New flower or shrub bed | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) |
| Vegetable garden or raised bed | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) or the full bed depth |
Don't bury an existing lawn under more than about 1/2 inch at a time when top dressing, or the grass may struggle to come through. For low spots deeper than 2 inches, fill in stages, letting the grass grow through between applications.
How much does topsoil weigh?
Weight depends on the type of soil and especially on how much water it holds. A cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs roughly 1.1 tons (about 2,200 lb), and wet soil can weigh noticeably more. In metric, a cubic meter weighs roughly 1.3–1.65 tonnes. That matters if you plan to collect soil yourself: a small pickup truck or trailer may only safely carry around one cubic yard. Check your vehicle's payload rating before loading.
Buying topsoil
- Ask what's in it. "Topsoil" can mean anything from screened garden soil to fill dirt. For lawns and beds, ask for screened topsoil, or a soil-and-compost blend for planting.
- Look before you buy. Good topsoil is dark, crumbly and free of large stones, roots and rubbish. If you can, squeeze a damp handful: it should hold together loosely and then break apart, not form a sticky ball of clay.
- Bulk or bags? Bags are convenient for raised beds and containers. For anything over about one cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually far cheaper.
- Plan the drop-off. A delivery is tipped in one pile. Lay a tarp down if it's going on your driveway, and have a wheelbarrow and rake ready.
Frequently asked questions
- How much area does a cubic yard of topsoil cover?
- One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches and 54 sq ft at 6 inches.
- How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
- A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot.
- How much topsoil do I need for a raised bed?
- Multiply the bed's inside length × width × height. An 8 × 4 ft bed that is 1 ft deep holds 32 cubic feet, about 1.2 cubic yards. Many gardeners fill raised beds with a mix of topsoil and compost rather than topsoil alone.