Loan Topsoil Estimator
Topsoil is ordered three ways — by the yard, by the ton, by the bag — and the conversions are where orders go wrong. Enter area and depth once; get all three, with the settle factor gardeners actually see.
Rules of depth: 2 in refreshes a tired bed, 4 in builds a new one, 6 in is the minimum for a raised bed you actually plant in, and new lawns want 4–6 in under the seed or sod.
How it works
Volume is area × depth: cubic feet = length × width × (depth ÷ 12), and cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Weight uses the standard topsoil planning density of about 1.1 tons per cubic yard (roughly 2,200 lb — a screened, reasonably dry topsoil; wet soil can run 20% heavier, which matters for your truck, not your wallet, since bulk is sold by the yard). Bag counts divide the cubic feet by the bag size. Depths are finished depths: loose soil settles and compacts about 15–20% in the first season, so for an exact finished depth, order a fifth extra — the estimator reports the true geometric volume so you can see the choice.
Formula & worked example
Formula: Cubic feet = length × width × depth in feet; cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27. Tons = yards × 1.1 (the standard planning density for screened topsoil, ≈2,200 lb per yard). Bags = cu ft ÷ bag size in cu ft.
Worked example: A 20 × 10 ft bed at 4 in deep: 66.67 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd ≈ 2.72 tons — or 45 bags at 1.5 cu ft. At 6 in deep the same bed needs 3.70 yards, which is where bulk delivery firmly beats bags.
When to use this
- Building raised beds and choosing between a bulk yard delivery and bags.
- Top-dressing or regrading a lawn area before seeding or sod.
- Filling a garden bed, berm or tree ring to a stated depth.
- Pricing a delivery: yards for the yard, tons for the ticket, bags for the store run.
How to use it, step by step
- Measure the area's length and width (break irregular beds into rectangles).
- Set the depth: 2 in refresh, 4 in new bed, 6 in raised bed minimum.
- Read yards for bulk, tons for weight limits, bags for small jobs.
- Add a fifth extra if an exact finished depth matters after settling.
- Schedule delivery after the area is cleared and edged — soil waits poorly in a driveway pile.
What the inputs mean
| Input | What it is | Typical values |
|---|---|---|
| Length & width | Bed or lawn area dimensions | Beds 4 × 8 to 20 × 30 ft |
| Depth | Finished depth of new soil | 2–6 in typical |
| Bag size | For the bagged comparison count | 1, 1.5 or 2 cu ft |
Another worked example
A bigger kitchen-garden build: 30 × 15 ft at 6 in deep. That is 225 cu ft = 8.33 cu yd, about 9.17 tons — firmly bulk-delivery territory, since the bag equivalent is 113 of the 2 cu ft bags, a pallet-plus of lifting.
Frequently asked questions
How much topsoil do I need for a 20 × 10 ft bed at 4 inches?
200 sq ft × 4 in = 66.67 cu ft = 2.47 cubic yards — about 2.72 tons, or 45 bags at 1.5 cu ft each. That is the size where bulk delivery usually beats bagging it.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
About 2,200 lb (1.1 tons) for typical screened topsoil at average moisture. Saturated soil can reach 2,700 lb per yard. A half-ton pickup carries roughly half a yard safely — plan trips accordingly.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Four to six inches over the graded subsoil. Less and roots hit the poor layer before they establish; the estimator at 6 in over 200 sq ft calls for 3.70 yards. Raised beds want 6 in minimum, 12 in for root vegetables.
Bags or bulk — where is the break-even?
Bags run roughly 3–5× the per-yard price of bulk. Under about half a yard, bags win on total cost because bulk carries a delivery fee. The bag count is always shown here so you can price both honestly.
Why does my delivered yard look short after a month?
Settling. Loose-placed topsoil compacts 15–20% as it wets and settles. Order a fifth extra for a precise finished grade, or accept the gentle dip as the bed's first-season character.
🌱 Covering it with mulch?
Soil down, mulch on top: the Mulch Calculator sizes yards and bags for the same bed dimensions.
How many bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?
Twenty-seven 1 cu ft bags, eighteen 1.5 cu ft bags, or 13.5 of the 2 cu ft size. The estimator's bag count is why bulk wins past about half a yard: at yard 1 you are choosing between a delivery and roughly 18–27 bag trips to the car.
Topsoil or garden soil — are they the same?
No. Topsoil is screened earth — structure and bulk. Bagged 'garden soil' is topsoil amended with compost and fertiliser for beds. For lawns and grading use topsoil; for small planted beds, garden soil earns its premium in the first season.