Topsoil Calculator
Calculate how much topsoil you need to level a lawn or fill a bed. Estimate cubic yards, bags, and delivery quantity.
Results
- Volume needed
- 2.47 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 2.72 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 66.67 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 1.89 m³
- Estimated weight
- 2.99 tons
- 0.75 cu ft bags
- 98 bags
Estimates only. Round up and buy a little extra to account for waste, spills, and breakage.
Calculate how much topsoil you need to level a lawn or fill a bed. Estimate cubic yards, bags, and delivery quantity.
Also used as a garden soil calculator and fill dirt estimator.
How to use the topsoil calculator
- Enter the shape.
- Enter the length in ft.
- Enter the width in ft.
- Enter the depth in in.
- Enter the waste factor in %.
- Optionally add a price to estimate the total project cost.
- Read your quantities instantly — no sign-up, and you can print the estimate to take to the supplier.
Worked example
Inputs
- Shape
- Rectangle / Square
- Length
- 20 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 4 in
- Waste factor
- 10 %
Results
- Volume needed
- 2.47 cu yd
- With 10% waste
- 2.72 cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 66.67 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 1.89 m³
- Estimated weight
- 2.99 tons
- 0.75 cu ft bags
- 98 bags
Using the example values above, the topsoil calculator returns 2.47 cu yd (volume needed). Change any field to match your own project and the numbers update instantly.
How much extra should I order?
Always order a little extra. A 5% waste factor suits simple, square projects; 10% is right for most jobs; bump it to 15–20% for irregular shapes, diagonal patterns, or uneven ground. Running short almost always costs more than the leftover material.
Cubic yard coverage by depth
| Depth | Coverage per cu yd |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
Formula
Volume (cu ft) = area × depth ÷ 12. Cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27. Waste-adjusted = volume × (1 + waste%).
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
- Screened topsoil weighs roughly 1.1 tons (2,200 lb) per cubic yard when moist.
- How deep should new topsoil be?
- Add 4–6 inches for new lawns and 8–12 inches for vegetable gardens.
- How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
- About 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, equal one cubic yard.
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