Topsoil Calculator

Calculate cubic yards, bag count, and cost for any garden, lawn, or backfill project.

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth

Your Price (optional)

$/yd³ (bulk)

$/bag (0.75 cu ft)

Enter your supplier's prices to compare bulk vs. bags.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your area length and width in feet, then set the depth in inches. For new garden beds starting from bare ground, 6 inches is the standard minimum. To topdress an existing lawn, 1 to 2 inches is typical. To fill a raised bed completely, measure the interior dimensions and the desired fill depth. The calculator includes a 10% overage for settling and uneven terrain. For L-shaped beds or multiple separate areas, run the calculator once per section and add the cubic yard totals. Under 1 cubic yard, buying bags is usually more convenient and avoids bulk delivery minimums. For larger projects, bulk delivery from a landscape supplier is significantly cheaper per cubic yard than bags.

How to Calculate Topsoil

The formula is: Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Depth in feet) ÷ 27. Convert depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12.

A 4 × 8 raised bed at 6 inches deep: 4 × 8 × 0.5 = 16 cubic feet. 16 ÷ 27 = 0.59 cubic yards. With 10% for settling: 0.65 cubic yards to order.

One cubic yard of topsoil covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, or 54 square feet at 6 inches. Bags labeled 0.75 cubic feet each yield 36 bags per cubic yard. At 1 cubic foot per bag, you need 27 bags per cubic yard. Landscape suppliers sell bulk topsoil by the cubic yard; bag pricing at hardware and garden stores runs 3 to 5 times higher per cubic yard equivalent, so bulk delivery pays off quickly once you exceed 1 yard.

Depth	1 yd³ covers	Bags (0.75 cu ft) per yd³	Bags (1 cu ft) per yd³
1 inch (topdressing)	324 sq ft	36	27
2 inches	162 sq ft	36	27
3 inches	108 sq ft	36	27
4 inches	81 sq ft	36	27
6 inches	54 sq ft	36	27
12 inches	27 sq ft	36	27

Topsoil Tips

Order more than calculated for new beds. Topsoil settles 10 to 20 percent after the first watering cycles and rain events. A bed that measures correctly on delivery day will sit low after the first season. Adding a bit extra to the original delivery is far easier than scheduling and paying for a second small load.

For lawn topdressing, spread 1 inch or less per application. Applying more than 1.5 inches at once smothers existing grass instead of feeding it. Apply in early spring or early fall during active growth, not in midsummer heat or winter dormancy.

Check the soil composition before ordering. Topsoil quality varies widely by supplier. Ask for a basic spec: loam or sandy loam with less than 20 percent clay. Heavy clay topsoil compacts, drains poorly, and creates drainage problems even in raised beds if it makes up too thick a layer. Request a sample and test it by squeezing a damp handful. Good topsoil crumbles; poor topsoil stays formed.

What to Buy

For any project under 1 cubic yard, bags from hardware or garden stores are the most practical choice. Standard bags come in 0.75 cubic feet or 1 cubic foot sizes. The label shows cubic feet; the calculator's bag count uses 0.75 cubic feet as the default.

For projects over 1 cubic yard, call local landscape suppliers for bulk pricing. Most have a 1 to 2 cubic yard delivery minimum and charge by the cubic yard. Delivered cost typically ranges from $25 to $55 per cubic yard depending on your location and soil composition. Ask specifically for screened topsoil to avoid rocks and debris. Some suppliers offer blended mixes with compost already incorporated, which cost more per yard but save time on soil preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much topsoil do I need for a raised garden bed? +

Multiply the interior length by the interior width by the fill depth in feet. A 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed filled to 12 inches (1 foot) needs 32 cubic feet, or 1.19 cubic yards. At 6 inches deep, that same bed needs 16 cubic feet or 0.59 cubic yards. Add 10 percent for settling: order 0.65 cubic yards or about 24 bags of 0.75 cubic foot topsoil.

How many 0.75 cu ft bags of topsoil make a cubic yard? +

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. At 0.75 cubic feet per bag, you need 36 bags to fill one cubic yard. At 1 cubic foot per bag, you need 27 bags. Most standard topsoil bags at hardware and garden stores are 0.75 cubic feet, though some brands sell 1 cubic foot bags. Check the label before calculating.

How deep should I apply topsoil for a new lawn? +

For a new lawn seeded from scratch, apply 4 to 6 inches of topsoil and till it into the existing soil to a depth of 8 inches total. For overseeding or topdressing an existing lawn, apply no more than 1 inch at a time. Applying too much at once smothers existing grass. Topdress in early spring or fall, not in summer heat.

What does 1 cubic yard of topsoil cover? +

One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, 54 square feet at 6 inches, and 27 square feet at 12 inches. For a rough estimate, divide your square footage by the coverage for your target depth. Always add 10 percent for settling and uneven terrain.

What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil? +

Topsoil is the natural upper layer of earth, typically the top 2 to 8 inches of ground. It is used for filling, grading, and establishing new planting areas. Garden soil is a blended product, usually a mixture of topsoil, compost, and other amendments, sold in bags and optimized for container gardening or raised beds. For large-volume fills, topsoil is far cheaper. For small raised beds where soil quality matters most, garden soil blends are often worth the premium.

Should I buy bags or order bulk topsoil? +

Order bulk delivery for anything over 1 cubic yard. Bulk topsoil from a landscape supplier costs $25 to $55 per cubic yard delivered, compared to $54 to $95 per cubic yard equivalent when buying 0.75 cubic foot bags. At 2 cubic yards, the savings from bulk typically exceed the delivery charge. Under 1 cubic yard, bags avoid delivery minimums and are easier to handle without equipment.

Will topsoil settle after I spread it? +

Yes. Freshly delivered topsoil typically settles 10 to 20 percent after the first watering cycles and rain events. Loose, airy soil settles more than dense soil. For raised beds and level fills, always order 10 percent more than your calculated volume. The calculator already includes this allowance. If you need a precise final grade, plan to add a top-off layer after the first season.

How much does topsoil cost? +

Bulk topsoil delivered from a landscape supplier typically costs $25 to $55 per cubic yard, depending on your location, soil quality, and delivery distance. Screened topsoil and blended mixes with compost cost more. Bagged topsoil at hardware or garden stores runs $4 to $8 per 0.75 cubic foot bag, which is $145 to $290 per cubic yard equivalent — three to five times the bulk price. For any project over 1 cubic yard, bulk delivery is almost always the better value.

Related Calculators

Topsoil Calculator in Cubic Yards

Convert square footage to cubic yards of topsoil with settling allowance and cost estimate

How Much Topsoil Do I Need?

Find exact cubic yards and bag count for gardens, lawns, raised beds, and backfill project

Topsoil Calculator for Raised Beds

Calculate cubic yards and bags of topsoil to fill any raised garden bed size.