Topsoil Calculator — Cubic Yards, Tons & Bags

How to use this topsoil calculator

Enter the length and width of your area in feet, then the depth in inches. The calculator returns four numbers that matter when ordering:

• Cubic yards — how most bulk suppliers sell topsoil
• Tons — what delivery drivers quote by weight
• Cubic feet — useful for small projects and comparing to bags
• 40lb bags — if you're buying from a home improvement store

For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and add the results together. For circular beds, use π × radius² × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 for cubic yards.

Recommended topsoil depth by project type

Depth is the hardest thing for first-time buyers to get right. Too shallow and plants struggle; too deep and you've wasted money.

• New lawn from seed or sod: 4–6 inches
• Top-dressing an existing lawn: 0.25–0.5 inches
• Flower beds: 6–8 inches
• Vegetable gardens: 8–12 inches (deeper for root crops)
• Raised beds: 10–18 inches, usually mixed with compost
• Tree planting holes: 2× the root ball diameter, 1.5× the depth
• Filling low spots in yards: match surrounding grade plus 10% for settling

Topsoil vs. garden soil vs. compost — which do you need?

Topsoil is the plain upper layer of earth, screened to remove rocks and debris. It's the right choice when you need volume: filling low spots, building up a lawn base, or starting a large bed.

Garden soil is topsoil enriched with compost and nutrients, ready for planting directly. Convenient, but roughly 2–3× the price of plain topsoil.

Compost is decomposed organic matter. Use it as an amendment mixed into existing soil (2–3 inches of compost tilled into the top 6 inches of topsoil) rather than as a standalone base.

For most projects, buying bulk topsoil and amending it yourself with bagged compost saves 40–60% over pre-blended garden soil.

How much does topsoil weigh?

A cubic yard of topsoil weighs roughly 2,000–2,700 pounds, depending on moisture content and organic matter. Our calculator uses 1.35 tons per cubic yard — the standard industry figure for ordering and delivery.

Wet topsoil weighs significantly more, which matters if you're calculating truck capacity for pickup. A standard half-ton pickup safely handles about 1 cubic yard of wet topsoil before you're over payload.

Buying topsoil: bulk delivery vs. bagged

Under 1 cubic yard: Bagged is easier. A 40lb bag covers about 0.75 cubic feet, so roughly 36 bags equal 1 cubic yard. Expect to pay $3–$6 per bag at home improvement stores.

Over 1 cubic yard: Bulk is dramatically cheaper. Delivery fees run $50–$150 depending on distance, and bulk pricing is $15–$50 per yard. Breakeven is around 5–8 bags.

Pro tip: order topsoil 2–3 days before you plan to spread it. Fresh topsoil is easier to work with; after 5–7 days in a pile, it compacts and becomes physically harder to move. If you can't spread immediately, cover with a tarp to prevent weeds from seeding.