Topsoil Calculator
Cubic yards, tons, tonnes and bags of topsoil for lawns, beds and levelling – settling allowance included.
- Yards, tons, bags & cost
- US & metric units
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Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard (or by the tonne and bulk bag in the UK), but every job starts with square feet and inches. This topsoil calculator does the conversion for you – cubic yards, tons, cubic metres, tonnes and bags – and includes a settling allowance, because soil that is fluffy on the truck drops 10–15% once it is watered in.
How to use the topsoil calculator
- Measure the area
Enter the lawn or bed dimensions in feet (or metres). For an L-shaped lawn, split it into two rectangles and use “Add another area”.
- Set the depth
New lawn from seed or sod: 4–6″. Levelling bumps and dips: 1/4–1/2″ per application. Flower beds: 6–8″. Vegetable beds and raised beds: 8–12″.
- Choose the soil
Screened topsoil is the standard product. Pick “garden mix” for soil blended with compost (lighter), or “compost” if you are only adding organic matter. Wet soil weighs about 20% more than moist soil.
- Keep the settling allowance
The default 10% covers normal settling. For a deep fill (8″ or more) use 15%, because deeper layers compress more under their own weight.
Topsoil formula
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324Cubic metres = Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (cm) ÷ 100Tons = cubic yards × 1.2 (moist screened topsoil) · Tonnes = m³ × 1.4
Example: new lawn 40 ft × 25 ft, 4″ of topsoil
- Area = 40 × 25 = 1,000 sq ft
- Volume = 1,000 × 4 ÷ 324 = 12.3 yd³
- Add 10% for settling → 13.6 yd³ (about 16 tons – one large dump-truck load)
How much topsoil do I need? Quick reference
| Area | 1/2″ (level) | 2″ (top-dress) | 4″ (new lawn) | 6″ (lawn, poor soil) | 12″ (raised bed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.15 yd³ | 0.62 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 250 sq ft | 0.39 yd³ | 1.54 yd³ | 3.09 yd³ | 4.63 yd³ | 9.3 yd³ |
| 500 sq ft | 0.77 yd³ | 3.09 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1.54 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ | 37 yd³ |
| 2,500 sq ft | 3.86 yd³ | 15.4 yd³ | 30.9 yd³ | 46.3 yd³ | 92.6 yd³ |
| 5,000 sq ft | 7.72 yd³ | 30.9 yd³ | 61.7 yd³ | 92.6 yd³ | 185 yd³ |
Before the settling allowance. Multiply by 1.2 for tons. A 1 cu ft bag covers 2 sq ft at 6″ or 6 sq ft at 2″.
Topsoil weight and coverage
| Material | Density | Tons per yd³ | sq ft per ton at 2" | sq ft per ton at 4" | sq ft per ton at 6" | sq ft per ton at 12" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screened topsoil (moist) | 90 lb/ft³ | 1.22 | 133 | 67 | 44 | 22 |
| Topsoil, dry / loose | 78 lb/ft³ | 1.05 | 154 | 77 | 51 | 26 |
| Topsoil, wet | 105 lb/ft³ | 1.42 | 114 | 57 | 38 | 19 |
| Garden mix / blended soil | 80 lb/ft³ | 1.08 | 150 | 75 | 50 | 25 |
| Compost | 55 lb/ft³ | 0.74 | 218 | 109 | 73 | 36 |
| Black dirt | 85 lb/ft³ | 1.15 | 141 | 71 | 47 | 24 |
Coverage = 2,000 lb ÷ (density × depth in feet). Figures are for loose material; add 5–10% for waste and up to 20% for compacted base layers.
Bags, bulk or bulk bags?
United States
Bagged topsoil comes in 0.75, 1 and 1.5 cu ft bags (40 lb is roughly 0.75 cu ft). A cubic yard is 27 bags of 1 cu ft – and a 1,000 sq ft lawn at 4″ would need over 330 bags. Bulk topsoil by the cubic yard is the only sensible option above about half a yard; most suppliers deliver 5–15 yards per load.
United Kingdom & Ireland
Topsoil is sold by the bulk bag (roughly 0.7–0.9 m³, around 850 kg) or loose by the tonne. The calculator’s bulk-bag figure assumes 850 kg per bag; check your supplier’s bag size. Switch the calculator to Metric to work in m², cm, m³ and tonnes directly.
Buying good topsoil
- Screened topsoil has had stones, roots and clods removed – worth paying for under a lawn. Unscreened is fine as a base layer.
- Ask for a loam texture (a balance of sand, silt and clay). Very sandy soil drains too fast; heavy clay stays wet and compacts.
- Good topsoil is dark, crumbles in your hand and smells earthy. Avoid anything grey, sticky or with a sour smell.
- For planting beds, a 50/50 topsoil–compost blend (sold as garden mix) is lighter and richer than topsoil alone.
- Order on a dry day if you can – wet soil is heavier, so a truckload by weight contains less of it, and it is miserable to spread.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards of topsoil do I need for 1,000 square feet?
At 4 inches deep, 1,000 sq ft needs 12.3 cubic yards – about 13.6 yards with a 10% settling allowance. At 2 inches it is 6.2 yards; at 6 inches 18.5 yards.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Moist screened topsoil weighs about 2,400 lb (1.2 tons) per cubic yard. Dry, loose soil is lighter (around 2,100 lb) and saturated soil heavier (2,800 lb or more).
How many bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
How deep should topsoil be for grass?
Aim for 4–6 inches of good topsoil for a new lawn, whether seeding or laying sod. Grass roots grow 4–6″ deep; thinner soil dries out fast and the lawn struggles in summer. If the existing soil is reasonable, 2–3″ of new topsoil tilled into it also works well.
How much topsoil do I need to level a lawn?
Spread no more than 1/4–1/2 inch at a time so the grass can grow through. That is 0.15 cubic yards per 100 sq ft at 1/2″. Repeat a few weeks later if the dips are deeper.
How much topsoil does a bulk bag cover (UK)?
A typical 850 kg bulk bag of topsoil is roughly 0.6 m³ and covers about 6 m² at 10 cm deep or 12 m² at 5 cm. Bag volumes vary – use the Metric mode of the calculator and adjust the bulk bag size if your supplier quotes a different weight.
