Topsoil Calculator
Estimate topsoil for new beds, lawn repair or raised beds in cubic yards and 40 lb bags. Enter the area and how deep you want to fill.
Topsoil calculator
How it's calculated: Length ft × width ft × (depth in ÷ 12) = cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards, or by 0.75 for the number of 40 lb bags.
How to estimate topsoil
- For a new lawn, 4-6 inches of quality topsoil gives roots room to establish.
- Raised beds usually want the full bed depth; mix topsoil with compost for better structure.
- Bulk topsoil is far cheaper than bags for anything larger than a small bed.
- Look at bulk topsoil before it is dumped - screened soil should be crumbly, dark and free of rocks, roots and clay clods.
- Loosen compacted subsoil before spreading topsoil over it; roots and water stop dead at a hard layer.
Frequently asked questions
How many 40 lb bags of topsoil in a cubic yard?
About 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet each, so bulk is cheaper for larger jobs.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 to 1.3 tons depending on moisture. A heaped load of wet soil can exceed a pickup's payload, so plan delivery for anything over a yard or two.
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?
Topsoil is the screened mineral base; garden soil and compost blends are amendments with organic matter mixed in. For raised beds, topsoil blended with compost beats either one alone.
How much topsoil for topdressing a lawn?
A thin 1/4 to 1/2 inch layer is all an existing lawn can take - that is one cubic yard per roughly 650-1,300 sq ft. Any deeper smothers the grass.
Screened or unscreened topsoil?
Screened costs more but saves hours of raking out rocks and roots - worth it for lawns and planting beds. Unscreened is fine for rough fill and grade changes that get covered anyway.