Topsoil Calculator
Enter the area you are filling and how deep you want it. Soil settles, so the result includes a small allowance.
How the math works
Volume = length x width x depth in feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards, plus 10 percent if you allowed for settling.
Common questions
- How much topsoil do I need for a raised bed?
- Measure the inside of the bed and use its full depth. A 4 by 8 foot bed filled 10 inches deep takes about 27 cubic feet, which is one cubic yard.
- How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
- Four to six inches of decent topsoil over the subsoil. Less than four and the grass struggles in dry weather.
- How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
- Around 2,200 lb dry and up to 3,000 lb after rain. A half-ton pickup should not take a full yard of wet soil.
- Is topsoil the same as garden soil or compost?
- No. Topsoil is the mineral layer and is mostly structure, not food. Garden soil is topsoil with compost mixed in, and compost alone is too rich and too light to fill a bed with.