Soil Calculator
Calculate soil volume, cubic yards, tons, and cost for garden beds, raised beds, and landscaping
🌱 Soil & Topsoil Calculator
📊 Your Soil Requirements
Soil Volume Needed
Project Breakdown:
A Soil Calculator estimates the volume and weight of topsoil, fill dirt, potting soil, or mulch needed for a landscaping, gardening, or grading project. Soil and fill are sold by the cubic yard (bulk delivery) or cubic foot (bagged). Because different soil types have very different densities, this calculator lets you select the material type to get an accurate weight estimate for delivery planning.
How to Calculate Soil Volume
Calculating soil requirements involves these steps:
Formula:
Volume (cubic feet) = Length × Width × Depth
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
Example:
Garden bed: 20 ft × 10 ft × 6 inches (0.5 ft)
Volume = 20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 cubic feet
Cubic Yards = 100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards
Recommended Soil Depths
| Application | Recommended Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn (new) | 4-6 inches | Quality topsoil |
| Lawn (topdressing) | 1/4 - 1/2 inch | Thin layer over existing |
| Vegetable Garden | 6-12 inches | Deep rooting crops need more |
| Flower Beds | 6-8 inches | Mixed with existing soil |
| Raised Beds | 8-12 inches | Full bed depth |
| Container Gardens | Full depth | Use potting mix |
| Trees/Shrubs | 12-24 inches | Deep root systems |
| Mulch Layer | 2-4 inches | Surface covering |
Soil Types & Pricing
| Soil Type | Price Range | Weight/Yard | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | $20-40/yard | ~2,000 lbs | Lawns, general landscaping |
| Compost | $25-50/yard | ~1,000 lbs | Soil amendment, gardens |
| Potting Mix | $30-60/yard | ~800 lbs | Containers, raised beds |
| Mulch | $25-45/yard | ~600 lbs | Surface coverage, moisture |
| Sand | $15-30/yard | ~2,700 lbs | Drainage, mixing |
Bulk vs Bagged Soil
Bulk Soil (Cubic Yard):
- Best for: Large projects (>1 cubic yard)
- Cost: $20-50 per cubic yard
- Coverage: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
- Delivery: Usually included or $50-100 fee
- Pros: Much cheaper per unit, less packaging waste
Bagged Soil:
- Best for: Small projects (<1 cubic yard)
- Cost: $3-8 per bag (typically 1-2 cubic feet)
- Coverage: 1 cubic yard = 13-14 bags (2 cu ft)
- Total Cost: ~$40-100 per cubic yard equivalent
- Pros: Convenient, no delivery, store easily
💡 Money-Saving Tip: Buy bulk if you need more than 1 cubic yard. For a typical raised bed (4×8×1 ft), that's only 1.2 cubic yards, but bulk delivery is still cheaper than buying 18 bags at $5 each!
Common Project Examples
Typical Soil Requirements:
• 4×8 raised bed (12" deep): ~1.2 cubic yards
• 10×10 garden (6" deep): ~1.9 cubic yards
• 20×20 lawn (4" deep): ~4.9 cubic yards
• Container garden (5 planters): ~5-10 cubic feet (bagged)
Soil Weight by Type
Important for delivery and handling:
- Topsoil: 2,000-2,200 lbs per cubic yard
- Compost: 800-1,200 lbs per cubic yard
- Potting Mix: 600-900 lbs per cubic yard
- Mulch (wood): 400-800 lbs per cubic yard
- Sand (dry): 2,400-2,800 lbs per cubic yard
- Gravel: 2,400-3,000 lbs per cubic yard
How Many Bags Do I Need?
Standard bag sizes and coverage:
Common Bag Sizes:
• 1 cubic foot bag: 27 bags = 1 cubic yard
• 1.5 cubic foot bag: 18 bags = 1 cubic yard
• 2 cubic foot bag: 13.5 bags = 1 cubic yard
• 3 cubic foot bag: 9 bags = 1 cubic yard
Soil Quality Considerations
Good Topsoil Should Have:
- Dark color: Rich in organic matter
- Crumbly texture: Not too sandy or clayey
- Earthy smell: Fresh, not sour or ammonia-like
- No debris: Free from rocks, sticks, trash
- Weed-free: Screened to remove weed seeds
- pH 6.0-7.0: Neutral to slightly acidic
Avoid Soil That:
- Contains construction debris or contaminated material
- Has strong chemical or petroleum smell
- Is extremely heavy clay or pure sand
- Contains visible weed seeds or roots
- Has been sitting wet for long periods (can be sour)
Soil Amendments
Improve soil quality by mixing in:
- Compost (25-50%): Adds nutrients and improves structure
- Peat Moss (10-20%): Increases water retention
- Perlite/Vermiculite (10%): Improves drainage and aeration
- Sand (10-20%): Improves drainage in clay soil
- Aged Manure (10-25%): Nutrient-rich organic matter
Money-Saving Tips
- Buy bulk: Save 50-75% vs bagged soil for large projects
- Split delivery: Share with neighbors to split delivery fee
- Mix your own: Combine topsoil with compost (cheaper than buying premium blends)
- Municipal compost: Many cities offer free/cheap compost
- Make compost: DIY compost from kitchen/yard waste
- Time purchases: Buy in spring/fall when demand is lower
- Pickup yourself: Save $50-100 on delivery if you have a truck
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cubic yard of soil cost?
Topsoil typically costs $20-40 per cubic yard for bulk delivery. Premium blends, compost, and potting mix range from $25-60 per cubic yard. Bagged soil costs $40-100 per cubic yard equivalent. Always add delivery fees ($50-100) unless you pick up yourself.
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Calculate: Length × Width × Depth (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. For a 4×8×1 foot raised bed: (4 × 8 × 1) ÷ 27 = 1.2 cubic yards. That's about 18 bags of 2-cubic-foot soil or one bulk delivery.
Should I buy bulk or bagged soil?
Buy bulk if you need more than 1 cubic yard - it's 50-75% cheaper. Bagged soil is convenient for small projects (a few containers or small areas) but expensive for large areas. Bulk requires truck delivery or pickup.
How deep should topsoil be for a lawn?
New lawns need 4-6 inches of quality topsoil. For topdressing existing lawns, use only 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Deeper soil supports better root growth and drought resistance, but requires more material and cost.
Can I use topsoil in containers?
Not recommended. Topsoil is too heavy and compacts in containers, limiting drainage and root growth. Use potting mix or container mix instead, which is lighter and formulated for drainage. Topsoil works for in-ground gardens only.
How many bags of soil equal a cubic yard?
Depends on bag size. Standard 2-cubic-foot bags: 13.5 bags = 1 cubic yard. 1.5-cubic-foot bags: 18 bags = 1 cubic yard. Check bag labels - sizes vary by brand. Buying bulk saves money if you need this much.
Delivery & Handling Tips
- Ensure delivery truck can access your property
- Have wheelbarrow and shovel ready
- Spread soil within a few days (doesn't store well wet)
- Place tarp on driveway if dumping there
- Consider having soil dumped as close to site as possible
- 1 cubic yard = about 8-10 wheelbarrow loads
Conclusion
The Soil Calculator helps you accurately estimate soil needs and costs for any gardening or landscaping project. Whether you're building raised beds, establishing a new lawn, or amending garden soil, proper calculation prevents over-ordering (wasted money) or under-ordering (delays and extra delivery fees). Remember to consider soil quality, not just quantity - cheap soil full of clay or debris will cost you more in the long run!
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