Material estimator

Soil Calculator

Estimate topsoil, garden soil, compost, or fill dirt in cubic yards, bags, tons, and cost.

How This Calculator Works

Soil projects are easy to under-order because depth and settling matter. This calculator converts bed size and depth into bulk yards, bag count, weight, and cost.

Formula

Soil volume = length x width x depth in feet. Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27. Bags = cubic feet / bag size, rounded up.

Assumptions

The default bag size is 0.75 cubic feet and the default density is 1.1 tons per cubic yard. Soil weight changes with moisture and blend.

Practical Examples

A 20 ft by 10 ft bed at 4 inches deep with 10% settling needs about 2.72 cubic yards, or about 98 bags at 0.75 cubic feet per bag.
A 4 ft by 8 ft raised bed filled 10 inches deep with 10% settling needs about 1.09 yd^3, or about 40 bags at 0.75 ft^3 each.
Topdressing 1,000 sq ft of lawn at 0.25 inches deep with 10% settling needs about 0.85 yd^3.
A 20 ft by 5 ft planting bed at 6 inches deep with 15% settling needs about 2.13 yd^3.

Before You Buy

Buying Guidance

Use bagged soil for containers and small bed refreshes. Use bulk soil when the estimate is more than a few dozen bags.
Choose the material type before ordering: topsoil, compost, garden mix, raised-bed soil, and fill dirt are not substitutes for every project.
Confirm whether the supplier screens the soil and whether delivery includes dumping only or placement.

Waste Rules

Use 10-15% settling overage for loose soil, compost blends, and new beds that will be watered in.
Use a lower depth for lawn topdressing and a higher depth for new raised beds or grade changes.

Common Mistakes

Do not order fill dirt when the goal is planting; cheap fill may not support plants well.
Do not ignore moisture weight. Wet soil can be much heavier to haul and spread than dry bag labels imply.

Plan the Rest of the Job

Common Questions

How much topsoil do I need for a garden?

Many new garden beds use 6-12 inches of soil, while lawn topdressing may use much less. Match depth to the project.

Why include settling?

Loose soil settles after watering and weather. A 10-15% overage is common for planning.

Are topsoil, garden soil, and fill dirt the same?

No. Topsoil and garden soil support planting, while fill dirt is usually cheaper material for grading.