Topsoil Calculator
Estimate how many cubic yards of topsoil you need to fill a garden bed, raised bed, or level a section of lawn.
How this is calculated
Area is calculated from the shape you select — rectangle (length × width), circle (π × radius²), triangle (½ × base × height), circular ring (π × (outer radius² − inner radius²)), or trapezoid (average of the two parallel sides × width). That area is multiplied by depth to get the exact volume required, converted from cubic feet to cubic yards (27 ft³ per yd³). Your selected waste percentage is added to cover settling and uneven grading, and weight is calculated from that same waste-adjusted volume — approximately 2,200 lb per cubic yard for moist, screened topsoil (actual density varies with moisture content and soil composition). The suggested order then rounds the waste-adjusted volume up to the nearest 0.1 yd³ since most suppliers sell topsoil by the yard.
The material weights, waste allowances, and rounding rules behind every calculator are documented on our methodology page.
Example calculation
How far a cubic yard of topsoil goes
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it covers 324 ft² at 1 in deep and proportionally less as you go deeper. Use this table to sanity-check your result or to estimate quickly before you measure precisely. Weights use the same 2,200 lb per cubic yard as the calculator.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 yd³ | Needed for 100 ft² | Weight for 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² | 0.31 yd³ | 0.34 tons |
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 0.62 yd³ | 0.68 tons |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 0.93 yd³ | 1.02 tons |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 1.23 yd³ | 1.36 tons |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 1.85 yd³ | 2.04 tons |
| 8 in | 40.5 ft² | 2.47 yd³ | 2.72 tons |
| 12 in | 27 ft² | 3.70 yd³ | 4.07 tons |
Figures are before any settling allowance. Add 10–20% for compaction and uneven ground.
How deep to spread topsoil by project
| Project | Typical depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top-dressing or overseeding an existing lawn | 1/4–1/2 in | A thin layer worked into the grass, not a full layer |
| Leveling low spots in a lawn | 1–2 in at a time | Spread thin layers so the grass can grow up through them |
| New lawn from sod or seed | 4–6 in total | Count the existing soil you have already loosened |
| Flower and shrub beds | 4–8 in | Blend with compost for better structure |
| Raised beds for vegetables | 8–12 in | Root vegetables like carrots may need up to 18 in |
These are typical ranges. Match depth to your plants and to how much good soil is already on site.
Worked example: a raised bed with a soil and compost blend
A 4 × 8 ft raised bed filled 12 in deep holds 1.19 yd³ (32 ft³). Adding 10% for settling brings the order to 1.30 yd³. If you blend 70% topsoil with 30% compost by volume, that is about 0.91 yd³ of topsoil and 0.39 yd³ of compost.
Beds this small are often easier to fill from bags. Bagged soil usually comes in 0.75 to 1 ft³ sacks, so a full cubic yard takes about 27 to 36 of them, and bulk delivery is usually cheaper once you need more than a yard or two.
What good topsoil looks like
- Screened, so it's free of large rocks, roots, and clumps. Squeeze a handful: loam should crumble, not form a hard ball or stay loose like sand.
- Dark and earthy-smelling. A sour or chemical smell suggests poor composting or contamination.
- Free of weeds and weed seeds. Ask the supplier where it is sourced, because soil stripped from construction sites can contain buried debris or clay subsoil.
- Close to neutral pH. Most lawns and garden plants prefer roughly 6.0 to 7.0, and a basic soil test from your local extension office costs little.
- Labeled honestly. "Topsoil", "garden soil", and "fill dirt" are not interchangeable; fill dirt is fine for grading but won't grow plants well.
Preparing, delivering, and spreading
Loosen the existing soil 2 to 3 in deep before you add topsoil, so the new layer bonds to the old one instead of sitting on a hard pan that water can't cross. Rake out stones and clear debris first.
Grade the finished surface so water flows away from your house. A common building-code guideline is a drop of at least 6 in over the first 10 ft from the foundation. Ask the driver to dump on a tarp or on a hard surface away from storm drains, and cover the pile if rain is forecast so it doesn't wash into the street.
A standard 6 ft³ wheelbarrow holds less than a quarter of a cubic yard, so a 1 yd³ pile is roughly five loads. Plan the route for the wheelbarrow and pick a dry day to spread, because wet topsoil is much heavier and compacts more easily when walked on.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Use the "Bed shape" dropdown to switch to circle, triangle, circular ring, or trapezoid. Each shape shows the measurements it needs and the area formula used is shown in the breakdown.