Work out exactly how much topsoil you need. Enter your dimensions and get cubic yards, bags and tons in a second.
Tip: 4–6 inches is typical for new lawns. See the depth guide below.
Estimates assume loose topsoil at ~1.3 tons/yd³. Order 5–10% extra for settling.
Calculating topsoil comes down to one simple idea: volume equals length × width × depth. The only trick is keeping every measurement in the same unit before you multiply, then converting the result into cubic yards — the standard way topsoil is sold in bulk.
Measure the area. Record the length and width of your bed or lawn. For odd shapes, split them into rectangles and add the results together.
Choose a depth. Decide how deep the topsoil layer should be. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12 (e.g. 4 inches = 0.33 ft).
Find cubic feet. Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet). A 10 × 10 ft bed at 4 in deep = 10 × 10 × 0.33 = 33.3 cubic feet.
Convert to cubic yards. Divide cubic feet by 27 (there are 27 ft³ in a yd³). 33.3 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.23 cubic yards.
Different projects need different depths. Use this table as a starting point, then adjust for your soil and plants.
| Project | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New lawn / grass seed | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) | Enough for roots to establish. |
| Overseeding existing lawn | 0.25–0.5 in (0.5–1 cm) | A light top dressing only. |
| Flower beds | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) | Deeper for perennials. |
| Vegetable garden | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) | Root veg needs more depth. |
| Raised beds | 10–18 in (25–45 cm) | Fill to a few cm below the rim. |
| Sod / turf laying | 3–4 in (8–10 cm) | Level base before laying. |
At a 4-inch depth, a 10×10 ft area (100 ft²) needs about 33.3 cubic feet, or roughly 1.23 cubic yards. That's around 1.6 tons of topsoil. Enter your own numbers above for an exact figure.
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Standard bags hold 0.75 ft³, so you need about 36 bags per cubic yard. Larger 1.5 ft³ bags need about 18 per cubic yard.
Dry, loose topsoil weighs roughly 1.1–1.4 tons per cubic yard. Wet or compacted soil weighs more. This calculator uses ~1.3 tons/yd³ as a practical average.
Yes. Soil settles and compacts after delivery, and uneven ground uses more than the flat calculation suggests. Ordering 5–10% extra avoids a second delivery.
Topsoil is the nutrient-rich upper layer used for growing. Fill dirt is subsoil used to raise or level ground where planting isn't the goal. This tool estimates volume for either, but depths differ by purpose.