Topsoil calculator: yards, tons and bags of soil
Four inches of settled topsoil, the extension services' depth for a new lawn, over a 40 by 25 ft area is 12.3 cubic yards in place. It takes 13.6 loose yards once 10% is allowed for settling, about 15 tons of dry soil, two 10 yard truckloads.
Area times depth, plus settling
Area times depth gives the cubic feet of soil that ends up in place, and the depths the extension services publish are settled depths. Loose, screened soil from a pile stands taller than it will after a few rains. So the calculator adds a settling allowance before the order quantity is divided by 27 for cubic yards. Weight comes from the soil's density, which varies most with moisture and with how much compost is in the mix. That is why you can type your supplier's number in. Bags are the ordered cubic feet divided by the bag size, rounded up. A raised bed is simply an area with a large depth, so enter its inside length and width and the depth you will fill.
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27, then × (1 + settling). Tons = cubic yards × pounds per yard ÷ 2,000. Bags = ordered cubic feet ÷ bag size.
Cubic yards by area and depth
| Area | 1/2 in top-dress | 4 in | 6 in | 10 in | 12 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.15 yd | 1.23 | 1.85 | 3.09 | 3.70 |
| 500 sq ft | 0.77 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 15.4 | 18.5 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1.54 | 12.3 | 18.5 | 30.9 | 37.0 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 3.86 | 30.9 | 46.3 | 77.2 | 92.6 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 7.72 | 61.7 | 92.6 | 154 | 185 |
In place, before settling. One cubic yard covers 648 square feet at 1/2 inch, 81 at 4 inches, 54 at 6 inches and 27 at a foot.
A new lawn after construction
A builder left a 60 by 35 ft back yard as compacted clay. The plan is 5 inches of settled topsoil under sod, inside Penn State's 4 to 6 inch range. 2,100 square feet times 0.417 ft is 875 cubic feet, 32.4 cubic yards in place. With 10% for settling the order is 35.6 loose yards. At 2,241 pounds per dry yard that is about 40 tons: four tandem loads of 10 yards. Delivered and spread by machine that is a morning's work. By wheelbarrow it is about 300 trips, which is the real reason to pay the yard to spread it. Rough-grade the clay to fall away from the house first, because topsoil on top of a bad grade just moves the puddle up five inches.
Depth by job, from the extension services
| Job | Depth | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Seeding or sodding a new lawn | 4 to 6 in, settled, with 2 in worked into the subsoil | Penn State Extension |
| Top-dressing an existing lawn | no more than 1/2 in per application | Clemson HGIC |
| Raised beds | box 6 to 12 in high; at least 10 in of soil for most crops | Utah State and University of Georgia Extension |
In-ground flower and vegetable beds are usually dug and amended rather than filled, so the depth there is whatever you are replacing. Enter the bed and the depth of the soil you dig out.
Settling, trucks and what to tell the supplier
The 10% default covers the difference between a loose pile and a settled lawn. Use 15 or 20% for a compost-heavy mix, which settles more. Tell the supplier the yards from the list, whether you want screened or unscreened, and where the pile can go. It wants a tarp underneath so the last yard does not stay in the driveway. Ask how many yards the truck carries and whether there is a minimum, because delivery is usually charged per load, whatever the yards.
Questions about buying topsoil
How much topsoil do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Then add something for settling, because the extension services' lawn depths are settled depths. Loose soil from a pile stands taller than it will in a month. 1,000 square feet at 4 inches is 333 cubic feet, 12.3 yards, so order about 13.5 yards with 10% extra. The calculator does this for each area and adds raised beds in the same list. A 4 by 8 ft raised bed filled 12 inches deep is 1.2 yards, or 43 bags of 0.75 cubic feet.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard of topsoil is 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet or 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet. Scotts and Miracle-Gro sell soil in all four sizes, and the 0.75 cubic foot bag is the common topsoil size.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
About 2,240 pounds per cubic yard when dry. That comes from Penn State Extension's figure of 82.99 pounds per cubic foot for a typical soil at 1.33 grams per cubic centimeter. Sandy soils run heavier, organic soils lighter. Wet soil weighs a good deal more, so for a truck the dry figure is the floor, not the ceiling.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Penn State Extension calls for a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil, firmed or settled, to establish turf. It also calls for 2 inches of it worked into the top of the subsoil. For top-dressing an existing lawn, Clemson's guidance is no more than 1/2 inch at a time, so the grass still shows through.
How much soil for a 4x8 raised bed?
A 4 by 8 ft bed filled 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet, or 1.19 cubic yards. That is 43 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, 22 bags of 1.5 cubic feet, or just over a yard in bulk. Utah State Extension puts a raised bed at 6 to 12 inches high. The University of Georgia says most crops need at least 10 inches of soil, so 10 to 12 inches is the depth to plan on. Filled 10 inches deep, the same bed takes 1 yard.
What is the difference between topsoil, garden soil and fill dirt?
Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter, used to raise a grade cheaply. Topsoil is the darker top layer, screened to remove rocks and roots, used under lawns and in beds. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost or other organic matter for planting and raised beds, and it is lighter and settles more. The published weight here is for plain soil. For a blend, type the supplier's weight into the density box.
Should I order topsoil by the yard or buy bags?
Bags are convenient up to about half a yard, which is 18 bags of 0.75 cubic feet. Past that the bulk price per yard, even with delivery, is usually far below the bag price. A yard is already 36 bags to carry. Suppliers often set a minimum delivery of a few yards. So for a one-yard job, compare the bags against the smallest load the yard will send.
6 source documents
- Penn State Extension, What Is an Acre Furrow Slice of Soil? (82.99 lb of dry soil per cubic foot at 1.33 g/cm³). Read 2 November 2026.
- Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment (minimum 4 to 6 in of topsoil, firmed or settled). Read 2 November 2026.
- Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center, Topdressing a Home Lawn (no more than 1/2 in at a time). Read 2 November 2026.
- Utah State University Extension, Raised Bed Gardening (box 6 to 12 in high). Read 2 November 2026.
- University of Georgia Extension, Raised Garden Bed Dimensions, C1027-4 (at least 10 in of soil). Read 2 November 2026.
- The Scotts Company and Miracle-Gro, Scotts Premium Topsoil (0.75 cu ft) and Miracle-Gro Garden Soil product pages (0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 cu ft bags). Read 2 November 2026.