Topsoil Calculator
Enter the size of the area and the depth to find how much topsoil to order.
What this tool does
Multiply length × width × depth to get the volume, then add 10% for settling. A 20 ft × 10 ft bed covered to 4 inches needs about 2.7 cubic yards of topsoil. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. Enter your own measurements above to see the volume, bags and weight.
Calculates the volume of topsoil to fill an area at a chosen depth, and adds a waste allowance.
Converts the volume into cubic yards, cubic metres, litres, bags and weight.
How to use it
- Choose feet and inches or metres and centimetres.
- Enter the length, width and depth of the area.
- Adjust the waste allowance, density and bag size if you know them.
- Read the volume to order and the weight.
Why use this calculator
Works out how many cubic yards, cubic metres, bags and tonnes of topsoil you need from the length, width and depth of the area, plus an allowance for settling. Ordering topsoil is a guess for most people, and being short means a second delivery while ordering too much wastes money and leaves a pile to move. Measuring the area and the depth gives a figure you can take to a supplier.
Why we built it
We built the topsoil calculator to give cubic yards, bags and weight with a settling allowance. Measure the area with the area calculator and top the soil with the mulch calculator.
Who this tool is for
- Gardeners filling raised beds
- Homeowners reseeding lawns
- Landscapers ordering soil
When to use it
- Preparing a new lawn or reseeding.
- Filling raised beds and planters.
- Levelling low areas.
- Comparing bags with a bulk delivery.
How it works
Volume = length × width × depth. With feet and inches: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 gives cubic feet, and dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. In metric, length (m) × width (m) × depth (cm) ÷ 100 gives cubic metres. The waste allowance multiplies the result by 1 + allowance.
Weight = volume × density. The density used is 1300 kg per cubic metre, a typical figure; it changes with moisture and grade, so ask your supplier. Bags are the volume divided by the bag size printed on the bag, rounded up.
Topsoil depth guides: about 1 inch (2.5 cm) to top-dress a lawn, 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) for a new lawn and 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) for beds. Check the advice for your plants.
A worked example
These are the values the calculator opens with, so you can see exactly what it does with them. Change any value on the page and the result updates; the figures below come from the same calculation.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Units | Feet and inches |
| Length | 20 |
| Width | 10 |
| Depth | 4 |
| Extra to allow for settling and waste | 10 |
| Density of topsoil | 1300 |
| Bag size | 0.75 |
With those inputs, the calculator returns:
- Topsoil needed: 2.72 cubic yards (2.08 m³)
- Cubic feet: 73.3
- Litres: 2,077
- Weight (tonnes): 2.7
- Weight (US tons): 2.98
- Weight (pounds): 5,951
- Bags of 0.75 cubic feet: 98
- Area covered: 200 sq ft
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Units | Feet and inches, or metres and centimetres. |
| Length, width, depth | The size of the area to cover and the depth of the layer. |
| Waste, density, bag size | Allowance for settling, material density in kg/m³ and bag volume in cubic feet. |
| Output | Cubic yards, cubic metres, litres, weight in tonnes, US tons and pounds, and the number of bags. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The area is not a rectangle | The calculator multiplies length by width. | Split the area into rectangles and add the results. |
| Order is short | The depth varied or the material settled. | Increase the waste allowance. |
| My supplier uses a different density | Density varies with the product and moisture. | Enter their density. |
| Depth entered in the wrong unit | Depth is in inches or in centimetres. | Check the units setting. |
Assumptions and limitations
- Rectangular areas only.
- Weight depends on the density you enter.
- Bag counts depend on the bag size printed on the product.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?
Multiply length by width by depth, convert to cubic yards by dividing cubic feet by 27, and add about 10% for settling.
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?
Multiply the lawn area by the depth, typically 4 to 6 inches for a new lawn, and divide into cubic yards.
Is topsoil sold by weight or volume?
Both are used. Bulk is often by the cubic yard or the ton; bags are by volume.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard.
Should I add extra?
Yes. 5-10% covers settling and uneven ground.
Is my information sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing leaves the page.
Sources and accuracy
Volume is area times depth converted to cubic yards with NIST-defined factors, and the density used for tonnage varies by soil type and is entered by the user. Soil classification guidance is published by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Figures last checked against the source on . Standards and rates can change — if you are relying on this for something that matters, confirm against the source above. Think a figure is wrong or out of date? Send a correction.