Topsoil & Soil Calculator
Use it for new lawns, raised beds or filling low spots. Pick compost from the list if you're amending existing soil.
- Tested formulas
- Feet or metric
- Printable shopping list
2 What to buy
Updates as you typeAt 3.7 yards, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper than 134+ bags. Most landscape suppliers deliver from 2–3 yards.
| Material | Topsoil |
|---|---|
| Volume | 100 cu ft · 3.7 yd³ · 2.83 m³ |
| Weight (estimate) | 4.07 US tons · 3.7 metric tonnes |
| 0.75 cu ft bags | 134 bags |
| 1 cu ft bags | 100 bags |
| Recommended depth | 4–6" |
Weights are for dry, loose material. Wet material can weigh 15–20% more, so check your truck or trailer payload before hauling it yourself.
Shopping list
Quick answer
A 20 × 10 ft area covered 6 inches deep needs 3.7 cubic yards of topsoil, about 4.1 tons or 100 bags of 1 cu ft. New lawns need 4–6 inches; vegetable beds 12 inches or more.
Topsoil for common areas
| Area | 2" deep | 4" deep | 6" deep | 12" deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 yd³ | 2.47 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 7.41 yd³ |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ | 18.52 yd³ |
| 1000 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ | 12.35 yd³ | 18.52 yd³ | 37.04 yd³ |
Cubic yards. Use the calculator above for your exact size.
How much topsoil do I need?
Volume = length × width × depth (feet). For a 20 × 10 ft area at 6": 200 × 0.5 = 100 cu ft = 3.7 yd³, weighing about 4.1 tons. In bags that's 100 × 1 cu ft or 134 × 0.75 cu ft.
Topsoil depth by project
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| Overseeding / top-dressing a lawn | ¼–½" |
| New lawn from seed or sod | 4–6" |
| Flower beds | 8–12" |
| Vegetable beds | 12"+ |
| Raised beds | Full bed height (fill the bottom third with cheaper fill) |
Raised beds: measure inside dimensions
For a raised bed, use the inside length, width and height. A 4 × 8 ft bed that's 12" deep holds 32 cu ft, about 1.2 yd³. Soil settles 10–20% over the first season, so order a bit extra or plan to top up.
Topsoil, garden soil or compost?
- Topsoil: screened native soil for grading, filling and lawns. Cheapest.
- Garden soil / raised-bed mix: topsoil blended with compost. Better for growing.
- Compost: mix 1–3" into existing soil. It's an amendment, not a fill.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
About 2,000–2,700 lb (1–1.35 tons) dry. Wet topsoil can weigh considerably more.
How much topsoil do I need for a raised bed?
Multiply inside length × width × depth in feet. A 4×8×1 ft bed needs 32 cubic feet, about 1.2 cubic yards or 32 one-cubic-foot bags.
How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 one-cubic-foot bags or 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft.
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. See how we calculate for our sources and assumptions.