Topsoil Calculator
Find out exactly how much topsoil you need — in cubic yards and bags — for a new lawn, garden bed or top-dressing job.
Your area
Sets a typical depth of 4 in — adjust below if needed.
Covers spillage and settling. 5–10% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Bags or bulk delivery?
Order bulk by the yard
Coverage by depth
Topsoil type profile
The short answer
Multiply your area by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 10 \u00d7 10 ft area at 4 inches deep needs about 1.24 cubic yards \u2014 roughly 45 bags of standard 0.75 cubic foot topsoil. Add 5\u201310% for waste, and blend the new soil into the top few inches of the existing ground for the best root development.
Topsoil needed for common projects
Figures below use screened topsoil density, before waste.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | 0.75 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 \u00d7 10 ft top-dress | 0.5″ | 0.15 yd³ | 6 |
| 10 \u00d7 10 ft new lawn | 4″ | 1.24 yd³ | 45 |
| 10 \u00d7 20 ft new lawn | 4″ | 2.47 yd³ | 89 |
| 4 \u00d7 8 ft garden bed | 8″ | 0.79 yd³ | 29 |
| 20 \u00d7 20 ft grading | 2″ | 2.47 yd³ | 89 |
Topsoil types compared
| Weight per yd³ | Best for | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screened topsoil | 2,100 lb | Lawns, general use | Free of large rocks and debris |
| Unscreened topsoil | 2,200 lb | Grading, filling under sod | Cheaper, may contain rocks/clumps |
| Topsoil / compost blend | 1,900 lb | Garden beds, planting | Enriched with organic matter |
| Sandy loam topsoil | 2,300 lb | Drainage-sensitive lawns | Drains faster, less water retention |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered topsoil can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate how much topsoil you need
- Measure the area. Length \u00d7 width for a rectangle, or use the shape tools above for circles, triangles and borders.
- Decide the depth. \u00bd″ for top-dressing, 4″ for a new lawn, 6\u201312″ for a new garden bed.
- Find the volume. Area \u00d7 depth (in feet) gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Add waste. 5\u201310% covers spillage and settling.
- Convert to bags if buying bagged. Divide cubic feet by 0.75 for standard bags.
Worked example
A 10 \u00d7 10 ft area, prepped 4 inches deep before laying new sod, screened topsoil:
- Area10 \u00d7 10 = 100 sq ft
- Depth in feet4 \u00f7 12 = 0.333 ft
- Cubic feet100 \u00d7 0.333 = 33.3 cu ft
- Cubic yards33.3 \u00f7 27 = 1.24 yd³
- Plus 10% waste1.36 yd³
- Bags (0.75 cu ft)49 bags
Bagged or bulk delivery?
The crossover sits around 2 to 3 cubic yards. Below that, bagged topsoil is convenient and the cost difference is small. Above it, bulk delivery is dramatically cheaper per yard, and a single truckload saves carrying dozens of bags.
- Small jobs \u2014 use bagsTop-dressing, a single small bed, or topping up an existing area.
- Medium jobs \u2014 price both1 to 3 cubic yards. Ask about a delivery minimum before deciding.
- Large jobs \u2014 always bulkNew lawns and multiple beds. Bagged topsoil at this scale costs several times more.
Blending new and existing soil
A thin new layer sitting on top of unmodified ground creates a boundary that roots struggle to cross, which can leave grass and plants shallow-rooted and drought-prone. Tilling or raking the new topsoil into the top 2\u20133 inches of existing soil, rather than just laying it on top, gives roots a smoother transition and better long-term establishment.
Common mistakes
- Confusing topsoil with garden soil or compostTopsoil alone lacks the nutrient density of a proper planting mix \u2014 blend in compost for anything you intend to grow.
- Laying new soil without blending it inA sharp boundary between old and new soil limits root penetration. Till or rake the top few inches together.
- Underestimating settlingLoosely placed topsoil settles over the following weeks. Slightly overfilling accounts for this.
- Ordering unscreened topsoil for a lawnRocks and clumps in unscreened soil interfere with seed-to-soil contact and mowing later.
- Skipping grading before orderingUneven ground means the same order can look thin in some spots and thick in others \u2014 rough-grade first if possible.
- Not accounting for bag size differencesMost bags are 0.75 cubic feet, but some brands sell 1 or 1.5 cubic foot bags \u2014 always check before ordering.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Uniform depth across the whole area
- Standard dry-ish densities per topsoil type, as listed in the comparison table above
- A topsoil bag size of 0.75 cubic feet, a common hardware-store size
- Bulk orders rounded up to the nearest quarter yard
- No compaction factor \u2014 topsoil settles somewhat over time, which the waste allowance partly covers
- Prices are whatever you enter; they are not live market rates
Common questions
How much topsoil do I need for a garden bed?
A 10 \u00d7 10 ft bed filled 8 inches deep needs about 2.5 cubic yards, or roughly 90 bags of 0.75 cubic foot topsoil.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
4 to 6 inches of topsoil is standard before seeding or laying sod, enough for healthy root development.
How much topsoil covers a cubic yard?
About 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, or 108 sq ft at 3 inches.
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?
Topsoil is the natural upper layer of earth, used mainly for grading, filling and as a base. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and amendments, formulated specifically to support planting.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
About 36 bags of a standard 0.75 cubic foot bag make one cubic yard, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
Should I mix topsoil with the existing soil?
Yes for lawns and beds. Blending new topsoil into the top few inches of existing soil helps roots cross the boundary rather than staying confined to a shallow new layer.
Is bagged or bulk topsoil cheaper?
Bulk topsoil is significantly cheaper per cubic yard once you need more than about 2\u20133 cubic yards. Below that, bagged topsoil is more convenient and the price difference is small.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 2,000 to 2,200 lb, depending on moisture content and composition. Wet topsoil weighs noticeably more than dry.
Can I use topsoil for a raised bed?
Topsoil works as part of a raised bed mix, typically blended with compost, but pure topsoil alone tends to compact more than a dedicated raised bed soil blend.
How much topsoil do I need to top-dress a lawn?
A thin layer of \u00bc to \u00bd inch is typical for top-dressing an established lawn, which works out to roughly 0.8 to 1.5 cubic yards per 1,000 sq ft.
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Topsoil Estimate
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materialcalculate.com/tools/topsoil-calculator
Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Area | — |
| Topsoil type | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.75 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard topsoil densities. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.