Soil Calculator

Whether you’re building raised beds, laying a new lawn, topdressing turf, or regrading around a foundation, ordering the right amount of soil is the difference between one delivery and three. Our Soil Calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards, bag counts, and — critically — weight in tons, because bulk soil is delivered by trucks with real weight limits.

How to Calculate Soil

Determine your area’s square footage, choose a depth, and convert to volume:

Volume (cubic feet) = Area (ft²) × Depth (in feet)
Cubic Yards = Volume ÷ 27
Weight (tons) = Cubic Yards × Density ÷ 2,000
Bags = Cubic Feet ÷ Bag Size

Recommended Soil Depths

• • 1-2 inches: Topdressing an existing lawn or amending beds with compost
• • 4-6 inches: Topsoil base for new lawns, seed, or sod
• • 6-12 inches: Vegetable gardens and flower beds
• • 12-18 inches: Raised beds (fill to full height) and root crops like carrots

Soil Types and What They Weigh

• • Screened Topsoil (~2,000 lb/yd³): The all-rounder for lawns, grading, and beds
• • Garden Soil Blend (~1,800 lb/yd³): Topsoil enriched with compost, ready for planting
• • Raised Bed Mix (~900 lb/yd³): Light peat/compost/perlite blend that drains well in boxes
• • Compost (~1,400 lb/yd³): Nutrient-rich amendment, usually mixed 25-50% into native soil
• • Fill Dirt (~2,150 lb/yd³): Unscreened subsoil for raising grades — not for planting
• • Sandy Loam (~2,300 lb/yd³): Free-draining mix for leveling and drainage-sensitive areas

Bulk vs Bagged Soil

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet — that’s 18 standard 1.5 cu ft bags. Bagged soil typically costs 2-4× more per yard equivalent than bulk delivery, so for projects over about one cubic yard, bulk almost always wins. Bags make sense for small jobs, balconies, and specialty potting mixes. A full-size pickup can safely haul roughly one cubic yard of soil, so the calculator also estimates trips if you’re hauling it yourself.

Tips for Ordering Soil

• • Order 15-20% extra — fresh soil settles significantly after the first few waterings
• • Ask for “screened” topsoil to avoid rocks, roots, and clay clumps
• • Never spread or till soil when it’s saturated; it compacts and ruins structure
• • For raised beds, use a dedicated light mix — pure topsoil compacts in boxes
• • Confirm delivery truck access; a tandem load (10+ yd³) needs room to dump
• • Blend new soil 2-3 inches into the existing grade to avoid a drainage boundary