How much topsoil or dirt do you need?
Add your areas, pick the soil, get cubic yards, tons and bag count instantly.
How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?
Multiply the area by the depth to get the volume, then convert it to cubic yards, bags or tons. A 20 ft by 10 ft area at 4 inches deep takes about 66.7 cubic feet: roughly 2.5 cubic yards, 89 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, or about 3 tons of moist topsoil, before any extra for settling.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Loose, about 1 to 1.5 tons. The EPA volume-to-weight table lists loose sandy loam soil at 2,392 lb a cubic yard — about 1.2 tons, the calculator's default — dry loose earth at 70 to 80 lb a cubic foot (about 1 ton a yard) and wet, clay-bearing earth at 100 to 110 lb a cubic foot (about 1.35 to 1.5 tons). Compost is much lighter: about 1,000 lb a yard, give or take a few hundred pounds, according to UNH Extension. A full yard of topsoil is more than many pickups can carry, so check the payload on the door-jamb sticker before you load.
How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?
Plan on 4 to 6 inches of topsoil for a new lawn from seed or sod. At 4 inches, every 1,000 square feet takes about 12.3 cubic yards; at 6 inches, about 18.5. To top-dress an existing lawn, spread only ¼ to ½ inch — more than that smothers the grass.
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Use the bed's inside length, width and height. A 4 ft by 8 ft bed 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet: about 1.2 cubic yards, 22 bags of 1.5 cubic feet or 43 bags of 0.75 cubic feet. Most vegetables grow well in 8 to 12 inches of soil; tomatoes and root crops appreciate 12 inches or more.
How much extra topsoil should I order?
Fresh topsoil settles: expect it to lose 10 to 15% of its depth after rain and foot traffic, and bagged garden soil in a raised bed 15 to 20% in the first season. Compost-heavy mixes can settle even more. Ordering 10 to 20% extra covers most jobs.
Is bagged or bulk topsoil cheaper?
Bulk is usually far cheaper per yard — one cubic yard is 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet — but it comes with a delivery fee and a pile on the driveway. Bags make sense for a raised bed or a few low spots; for a new lawn, bulk almost always wins. Enter your local prices above to compare.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors; Oregon State University Extension, Interpreting Compost Analyses (EM 9217); UNH Extension, Purchasing Compost. How we check our calculators.