Soil Calculator
Work out how much soil you need for raised beds, garden beds or a lawn. Enter the size and fill depth to get cubic yards, bags, the weight of the load and a bagged-vs-bulk cost for topsoil, garden soil, raised bed mix, compost or fill dirt.
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Common raised bed sizes, filled with raised bed mix. Cubic yards and bags include the 20% settling allowance; bags are 1.5 cu ft. For several beds of the same size, enter the number of beds in the calculator.
| Bed | Fill depth | Volume | Cubic yards | 1.5 cu ft bags | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 6 in | 8 cu ft | 0.36 | 7 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 4 ft | 12 in | 16 cu ft | 0.71 | 13 | Run this bed |
| 3 × 6 ft | 12 in | 18 cu ft | 0.80 | 15 | Run this bed |
| 2 × 8 ft | 12 in | 16 cu ft | 0.71 | 13 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 8 ft | 6 in | 16 cu ft | 0.71 | 13 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 8 ft | 11 in | 29.3 cu ft | 1.30 | 24 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 8 ft | 12 in | 32 cu ft | 1.42 | 26 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 8 ft | 18 in | 48 cu ft | 2.13 | 39 | Run this bed |
| 4 × 12 ft | 12 in | 48 cu ft | 2.13 | 39 | Run this bed |
How many square feet does a cubic yard of soil cover?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so its coverage depends only on depth. Use 1–2 in for top-dressing or leveling a lawn, 4–6 in under new sod or seed, and 8–12 in for a new planting bed. These figures are before any settling allowance.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 8 in | 41 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
Soil types: cost, weight and settling
The cost of one cubic yard bought in bags and in bulk, and what a yard weighs. Bulk prices exclude delivery, and most suppliers have a minimum of about 1 cubic yard. Below that, bags are usually simpler.
| Soil | Bagged, per cu yd | Bulk, per cu yd | Weight per cu yd | Settling allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil (screened) | $54–$90 | $25–$45 | ~2,200 lb | 10% |
| Garden Soil (topsoil + compost blend) | $108–$180 | $30–$50 | ~1,900 lb | 15% |
| Raised Bed Mix | $144–$252 | $40–$70 | ~1,500 lb | 20% |
| Compost | $108–$189 | $40–$60 | ~1,200 lb | 20% |
| Fill Dirt | Not sold bagged | $8–$25 | ~2,200 lb | 15% |
- Topsoil: for leveling, filling low spots, and a base under sod or seed. Screened topsoil has the rocks and roots taken out.
- Garden soil and raised bed mix: topsoil blended with compost and other organic matter, so it stays loose and drains well in beds.
- Compost: an amendment, usually worked into the top few inches or blended in at about a third, not used alone.
- Fill dirt: subsoil for raising grade or filling holes. It's cheap, but plants grow poorly in it, so cap it with topsoil.
National-average ranges as of 2026-11, not live quotes. Weights are for moist, loose material; wet soil is heavier. After you calculate your quantity above, you can request local delivered prices. If a supplier quotes topsoil by the ton, our sister site's cubic yards to tons converter switches between the two.
How the soil calculator works
- Volume: length × width × depth (inches ÷ 12) gives cubic feet, times the number of beds, plus the soil type's settling allowance. Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Bags: cubic feet ÷ the bag size, rounded up.
- Weight: cubic yards × the typical weight of a yard of that soil.
- Cost: bags at retail prices, and bulk at a per-yard price before delivery, with a note on which is more practical at your quantity.
Worked example
One 4 × 8 ft raised bed filled 12 in deep with raised bed mix: 4 × 8 × 1 = 32 cu ft, plus 20% for settling = 38.4 cu ft, which is 1.42 cubic yards or 26 bags of 1.5 cu ft. In bags that's roughly $208–$364. A bulk yard and a half costs much less per yard, but check the supplier's minimum and delivery fee. Three of these beds come to about 4.26 cubic yards, where bulk delivery clearly wins.
Frequently asked questions
How much soil do I need?
Multiply length by width for square feet, multiply by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Add 10% to 20% for settling. A 4 by 8 ft raised bed filled 12 in deep holds 32 cubic feet, so with a 20% allowance it needs about 1.42 cubic yards of raised bed mix.
How much soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed?
With raised bed mix and a 20% settling allowance: about 0.71 cubic yards (13 bags of 1.5 cu ft) at 6 in deep, 1.30 cubic yards (24 bags) at 11 in, the height of two stacked 2x6 boards, 1.42 cubic yards (26 bags) at 12 in, and 2.13 cubic yards (39 bags) at 18 in.
How many bags of soil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft. Check the volume printed on the bag, since some soil bags are labeled by weight.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of topsoil cover?
One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in. Divide your area by the figure for your depth to get cubic yards.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 2,200 lb (about 1.1 tons) for moist, loose topsoil, and more when wet. Fill dirt is similar. Lighter mixes weigh less: about 1,900 lb for garden soil, 1,500 lb for raised bed mix and 1,200 lb for compost. A full yard of topsoil can be at or over the payload of a half-ton pickup, so check your truck's rating.
How much does topsoil cost?
Bulk screened topsoil runs about $25–$45 per cubic yard before delivery, which is usually a separate fee. The same yard bought in bags costs about $54–$90. These are national ranges as of 2026-11, not quotes.
What soil should I use in a raised bed?
A raised bed mix or garden soil (topsoil blended with compost) drains well and stays loose. Plain topsoil alone tends to compact in a bed, and pure compost is too rich and shrinks a lot, so it is normally blended in at about a third. For beds deeper than 18 in, many gardeners fill the bottom with cheaper topsoil or fill dirt and put the mix on top.
Why add extra soil for settling?
Loose soil settles once it is watered and walked around, so a bed filled exactly to depth ends up low. The calculator adds 10% for topsoil, 15% for garden soil and fill dirt, and 20% for raised bed mix and compost, which settle the most. You can change it under Advanced assumptions.
Limitations
This tool estimates quantities, weights and typical costs for rectangular areas. For a round bed, use the diameter for both length and width and multiply the result by 0.785. Soil weight changes a lot with moisture, and delivery minimums, truck access and local prices vary by supplier, so confirm before ordering. Compacted structural fill under a slab or footing needs an engineer's or contractor's spec, not this estimate.
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