Topsoil Calculator — Cubic Yards, Tons & Bags

How Much Topsoil Do I Need?

Most residential topsoil projects need between 1 and 5 cubic yards. The exact amount depends on three things: the area you're covering, the depth you want to add, and what the topsoil is for (lawn, garden, raised bed, fill).

The basic formula is straightforward:

Topsoil needed (cubic yards) = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27

All measurements should be in feet, with depth converted from inches to feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.

Quick estimates for common projects:

• 100 sq ft area at 2 inches deep — 0.62 cubic yards
• 200 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 2.47 cubic yards
• 500 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 6.17 cubic yards
• 1,000 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 12.35 cubic yards
• 1,000 sq ft area at 6 inches deep — 18.52 cubic yards (full lawn renovation)

Always order 5 to 10% extra to account for settling and uneven coverage. Topsoil settles significantly more than gravel or mulch — sometimes 15-20% over the first few weeks as it compacts under its own weight and rainfall.

The calculator above does this math instantly. For specialty projects (raised beds, fill applications, lawn renovation), see the dedicated sections below.

How Much Topsoil for Grass and Lawns?

Topsoil for lawn projects has two distinct use cases that need different depths.

Topdressing existing lawn (light refresh):

For repairing thin spots, leveling minor unevenness, or adding organic matter:

• Recommended depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch
• A 1,000 sq ft lawn at 1/4 inch needs 0.77 cubic yards
• A 1,000 sq ft lawn at 1/2 inch needs 1.54 cubic yards

This is light topdressing that grass blades can grow through. Don't exceed 1/2 inch when topdressing live grass — anything thicker smothers existing growth.

New lawn installation (full base):

For seeding or sodding new lawn from bare ground:

• Recommended depth: 4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil
• A 1,000 sq ft new lawn at 4 inches needs 12.35 cubic yards
• A 1,000 sq ft new lawn at 6 inches needs 18.52 cubic yards

For new lawns, the 4-inch minimum supports root development. Fescue, bluegrass, and rye establish well at 4-inch depth. Bermuda and Zoysia in southern climates can work with 4 inches but do better at 6 inches.

Soil amendment for compacted areas:

For heavily compacted areas (old construction sites, driveway edges), mix 2-3 inches of topsoil into the top 4-6 inches of existing soil rather than just laying topsoil on top. This creates a transition zone roots can penetrate.

The calculator above handles all three scenarios. For new lawns, multiply your square footage by 0.012 to get cubic yards needed (for 4-inch depth) or 0.019 (for 6-inch depth).

Topsoil Calculator for Yards and Tons

Topsoil is sold by both volume (cubic yards) and weight (tons). Different suppliers price differently.

Average weight conversions for topsoil:

• 1 cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs approximately 1,800 to 2,200 lb (0.9 to 1.1 tons)
• 1 cubic yard of wet topsoil weighs approximately 2,400 to 2,800 lb (1.2 to 1.4 tons)
• 1 cubic yard of screened topsoil (cleaner, lighter) weighs 1,500 to 1,800 lb
• 1 ton of topsoil covers approximately 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep

Quick conversion: 1 cubic yard of topsoil ≈ 1.0 to 1.2 tons (varies by moisture).

When to order by tons:

Most quarries, landscape supply companies, and bulk dirt yards price by the ton because they weigh trucks at delivery. If you're getting bulk delivery, expect a per-ton quote.

When to order by yards:

Garden centers and big-box stores often quote by the cubic yard. Yardage is also more useful when planning visual coverage.

Common topsoil project conversions:

• 1 cubic yard of topsoil = approximately 1.0-1.2 tons
• 5 cubic yards of topsoil = approximately 5-6 tons
• 10 cubic yards = approximately 10-12 tons

Common quantity questions:

A typical 3 cubic yards of topsoil weighs approximately 3-3.6 tons and covers 480 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 240 sq ft at 4 inches deep. Cost: $90-180 in bulk delivery.

A typical 5 cubic yards weighs 5-6 tons, covers 800 sq ft at 2 inches deep, costs $150-300 delivered, and would fit a small dump truck delivery.

The calculator above shows both units automatically.

How Much Does Topsoil Cost?

Topsoil pricing varies by quality, source, and quantity. Here are realistic 2026 ranges.

Bulk topsoil pricing (per cubic yard, delivered):

• Standard topsoil (unscreened) — $20 to $40 per yard
• Screened topsoil (rock-free, finer texture) — $30 to $55 per yard
• Premium garden mix (compost-amended) — $45 to $75 per yard
• Specialty soils (organic, certified pesticide-free) — $60 to $100 per yard

Bagged topsoil pricing (40 lb bags at retail):

• Standard topsoil — $2 to $4 per bag
• Premium organic — $4 to $7 per bag
• Garden soil mix — $5 to $10 per bag

Delivery fees:

• Most bulk suppliers have 1 to 3 cubic yard minimums
• Delivery: $50 to $200 depending on distance and quantity
• Some suppliers waive delivery for orders over 10 yards

When bulk beats bagged:

The break-even is roughly 0.75 to 1 cubic yard (about 17-23 bags of 40-lb topsoil). Below that, bagged is cheaper after factoring delivery. Above 1 yard, bulk wins by 40-60%.

For a typical 200 sq ft new bed at 4 inches deep (2.5 yards):

• Bagged: ~57 bags × $3 average = $171 (no delivery)
• Bulk: 2.5 yards × $30 average = $75 + $75 delivery = $150

That's $21 saved by going bulk on a project this size, plus the time saved not loading and unloading bags. Above 5 yards, bulk savings become substantial.

Topsoil for Raised Garden Beds

Raised bed soil is a specialized topsoil application that needs different proportions and depth than ground-level beds.

Standard raised bed soil mix:

The classic "Mel's Mix" formula (popular for square-foot gardening):

• 1/3 compost (multiple sources blended)
• 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir
• 1/3 vermiculite or perlite

For deeper or larger raised beds, a more affordable mix:

• 50% topsoil (screened)
• 25-30% compost
• 20-25% organic matter (peat, coconut coir, aged bark fines)

How much soil for a raised bed:

For a standard raised bed, calculate volume directly:

• Length × Width × Depth (all in feet) = cubic feet
• Divide cubic feet by 27 = cubic yards

Common raised bed sizes and soil needs:

• 4 ft × 4 ft × 12 inches deep — 16 cubic feet (0.59 cubic yards)
• 4 ft × 8 ft × 12 inches deep — 32 cubic feet (1.19 cubic yards)
• 4 ft × 8 ft × 18 inches deep — 48 cubic feet (1.78 cubic yards)
• 4 ft × 12 ft × 12 inches deep — 48 cubic feet (1.78 cubic yards)
• 8 ft × 8 ft × 12 inches deep — 64 cubic feet (2.37 cubic yards)
• 4 ft × 16 ft × 18 inches deep — 96 cubic feet (3.56 cubic yards)

For raised beds 18 inches or deeper, you can use the "lasagna method" — fill the bottom half with cheaper bulk material (logs, branches, leaves) that decomposes over time, then fill the top 6-12 inches with proper raised bed mix. This cuts soil costs by 30-50% on deep beds.

Best topsoil for raised beds:

Look for screened topsoil that explicitly says "garden grade" or "raised bed grade." Avoid:

• Unscreened topsoil (contains rocks, weeds, debris)
• "Fill dirt" or "construction soil" (low organic matter, often compacted)
• Topsoil with high clay content (poor drainage in confined raised beds)

Quality raised bed topsoil costs $40-75 per cubic yard delivered — more than standard topsoil because it's screened, amended with compost, and pre-mixed for plant growing rather than landscaping.

Fill Dirt vs. Topsoil — What's the Difference?

These terms get used interchangeably but mean different things, and using the wrong one will ruin a project.

Topsoil is the upper 4-12 inches of natural soil, dark in color from accumulated organic matter. Used for:

• Lawns and turfgrass
• Garden beds and raised beds
• Landscape grading
• Anywhere plants will grow

Fill dirt is subsoil — the deeper layers below topsoil, lighter in color, lower in organic matter. Used for:

• Filling holes from removed trees, pools, or structures
• Building grade for foundations and retaining walls
• Slope stabilization
• Anywhere structural support matters more than plant growth

Why this matters:

Topsoil is too organic to support structures — it compresses and shifts as the organic matter decomposes. Use it under a foundation and the foundation will sink within years.

Fill dirt is too lean for plants — almost no organic matter, often heavy clay. Try to grow grass in pure fill and you'll get sparse, struggling growth.

Cost difference:

• Fill dirt is typically $5 to $15 per cubic yard (sometimes free if delivered locally — landscapers often want to dump excess)
• Topsoil is $20 to $55 per cubic yard

When pricing varies wildly between two "topsoil" quotes, ask what they're actually selling. Some companies sell low-grade fill labeled as topsoil. Quality topsoil should be dark, crumbly, and have visible organic content.

The calculator above works for both — just enter dimensions. Use fill dirt depths up to 24 inches; topsoil for grass-growing depths of 4-6 inches; topsoil for garden bed depths of 8-18 inches.

Fill Dirt Calculator with Compaction

Fill dirt and topsoil both compact significantly after placement, which means the volume you order needs to exceed the calculated need.

Standard compaction rates:

• Loose topsoil: Compacts 15-20% in the first month from rainfall and gravity alone
• Moderately compacted topsoil: Compacts 10-15% after walking/equipment
• Mechanically compacted fill: Plate-compacted fill loses 25-35% of loose volume

The fill formula with compaction:

Volume needed = (Calculated cubic yards) × (1 + compaction percentage)

Example: A 200 sq ft area needs 1.85 cubic yards at 3 inches deep. With 15% compaction:

• 1.85 × 1.15 = 2.13 cubic yards needed loose
• Order 2.25 cubic yards to round up safely

For structural fill (under foundations, behind retaining walls, in trenches):

Always plate-compact fill in 4-inch lifts (layers). Each lift loses 25-35% of its loose volume after compaction. To fill a 12-inch deep trench at 100 linear feet × 2 feet wide:

• Final volume needed: (100 × 2 × 1) ÷ 27 = 7.4 cubic yards compacted
• Loose volume to order: 7.4 × 1.35 = 10 cubic yards loose

That extra 35% accounts for compaction loss — without it, you'll run out of fill mid-project.

Compaction timing:

• Day 1: Loose volume
• Day 7: 5-10% settled
• Month 1: 10-15% settled (most of the natural settling)
• Month 6: Final stable volume reached

For lawns, plan to add a topdressing layer 6 weeks after initial topsoil placement to compensate for settling. Don't seed grass on freshly-placed topsoil that hasn't had time to settle.

Topsoil Coverage Tables

For fast estimating without the calculator, these benchmarks cover most projects.

1 cubic yard of topsoil covers:

• 1 inch deep — 324 sq ft
• 2 inches deep — 162 sq ft
• 3 inches deep — 108 sq ft
• 4 inches deep — 81 sq ft
• 6 inches deep — 54 sq ft
• 12 inches deep — 27 sq ft

1 ton of topsoil covers:

• 1 inch deep — 270 sq ft
• 2 inches deep — 135 sq ft
• 3 inches deep — 90 sq ft
• 4 inches deep — 67 sq ft
• 6 inches deep — 45 sq ft

Common project topsoil needs:

• 100 sq ft area at 2 inches deep — 0.62 cubic yards (1 bag is not enough)
• 100 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 1.23 cubic yards
• 250 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 3.09 cubic yards
• 500 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 6.17 cubic yards
• 1,000 sq ft area at 4 inches deep — 12.35 cubic yards (lawn-scale order)

These figures assume loose, freshly-delivered topsoil. After compaction, plan to add 10-15% topdressing 4-6 weeks after initial placement.

Step-by-Step — How to Calculate Cubic Yards of Dirt

If you want to do the math without the calculator, here's the exact process.

Step 1: Measure your area in feet

For rectangular areas, multiply length × width. For irregular shapes, break into rectangles, calculate each, and add. For circular areas, use π × radius² (radius = half the diameter).

Step 2: Decide on depth

Choose the right depth for your purpose:

• Lawn topdressing: 1/4 to 1/2 inch
• New lawn establishment: 4 to 6 inches
• Garden bed amendment: 2 to 4 inches
• Raised bed fill: 12 to 18 inches
• Fill dirt for grading: 4 inches to 24+ inches depending on need

Step 3: Convert depth from inches to feet

Divide depth in inches by 12:

• 0.5 inch = 0.042 ft
• 2 inches = 0.167 ft
• 4 inches = 0.333 ft
• 6 inches = 0.5 ft
• 12 inches = 1.0 ft

Step 4: Calculate cubic feet

Length × Width × Depth (all in feet) = Cubic feet

Example: 25 ft × 12 ft × 0.333 ft = 99.9 cubic feet

Step 5: Convert cubic feet to cubic yards

Divide cubic feet by 27. Example: 99.9 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards.

Step 6: Add for compaction and waste

Round up by 10-15% for topsoil/garden applications, 25-35% for compacted structural fill. The example becomes 4 cubic yards ordered for garden use, or 5 yards if structural compaction is required.

Step 7 (optional): Convert to tons

Multiply cubic yards by 1.0-1.2 to estimate tons. Example: 4 yards × 1.1 = 4.4 tons.

The calculator above does all this in seconds, but understanding the math helps you verify supplier quotes and plan multi-stage projects.