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Topsoil Calculator

Calculate how much topsoil you need to fill a garden bed or level an area of yard.

Result

Topsoil Needed
2.78 cu yd
Approx. Weight
3.06 tons

About the Topsoil Calculator

Topsoil is typically sold and delivered by volume in cubic yards, or occasionally priced by weight in tons, rather than by the square footage of the area being filled. Translating a garden bed build-up or a yard leveling job into an order means converting area and depth into those delivery units first, which is what this calculator does.

How It Works

Enter the area to cover in square feet and the depth of topsoil to add in inches. The calculator converts depth to feet, multiplies by area to get a raw volume in cubic feet, then divides by 27 to convert to cubic yards, the unit most bulk topsoil suppliers price and deliver by. It also estimates the approximate weight of that volume in tons using a standard conversion factor for moist soil.

Volume (cu yd) = (Area x (Depth / 12)) / 27; Weight (tons) = Volume (cu yd) x 1.1.

Formula & Methodology

Working through it manually, first divide the depth in inches by 12 to get it in feet, since area is in square feet and the units need to match before multiplying. Multiply that depth by the square footage to get cubic feet of soil, then divide by 27, the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard, since that's the standard bulk delivery unit. Multiplying the cubic yard figure by 1.1 converts it to an approximate tonnage, useful for comparing supplier pricing that's quoted per ton instead of per yard.

Examples

150 sq ft, 6 in deep

At the default 150 square feet and a 6-inch, or 0.5-foot, depth, volume works out to 150 times 0.5, or 75 cubic feet, which is 75 divided by 27, or 2.78 cubic yards, weighing approximately 2.78 times 1.1, or 3.06 tons.

300 sq ft, 4 in deep

For a larger 300-square-foot area at a shallower 4-inch, or 0.333-foot, depth, volume is 300 times 0.333, or 100 cubic feet, equal to 100 divided by 27, or 3.70 cubic yards, weighing about 4.07 tons.

Advantages

  • Converts a garden bed or yard measurement directly into the cubic yard figure most bulk soil suppliers quote and deliver by.
  • Provides an estimated weight alongside volume, useful for checking a delivery truck's load capacity or comparing per-ton against per-yard supplier pricing.
  • Makes it fast to see how changing fill depth, say from 4 to 6 inches, changes the total order size for the same footprint.

Common Mistakes

  • Entering depth in feet instead of inches, which throws the calculated volume off by a factor of roughly 12.
  • Ordering topsoil to the exact calculated volume with no buffer, then coming up short after loose fill settles and compacts over the following weeks.
  • Assuming all topsoil and garden soil blends weigh the same per cubic yard, when moisture and organic content can shift the actual delivered weight noticeably.

Edge Cases to Watch For

  • The 1.1 tons-per-cubic-yard weight estimate is an average for moist topsoil - actual weight varies with soil composition, sand or clay content, and how wet the material is when delivered, sometimes by a meaningful margin.
  • The calculator assumes a flat, uniform depth across the entire area, so uneven ground or a sloped bed needs to be measured in sections or averaged carefully rather than treated as one flat number.
  • Very shallow depths convert to a small fraction of a foot, so it's worth double-checking that depth was entered in inches, not feet, before trusting the result.

Common Use Cases

  • Homeowners filling or building up a new garden bed who need to know how much topsoil to order.
  • Landscapers leveling low spots in a yard and estimating bulk material needs for a client quote.
  • DIYers comparing bagged topsoil against bulk delivery by converting the calculated cubic yardage into an equivalent number of bags.
Written & fact-checked by the Calculateus TeamLast updated August 5, 2026How we verify our formulas

Frequently asked questions

Should I mix topsoil with compost for a new garden bed?

Most gardeners blend topsoil (which provides bulk and mineral structure) with compost (which adds organic matter and nutrients) rather than using pure topsoil alone, since straight topsoil - especially lower-quality fill soil - can be nutrient-poor and compact heavily over time without organic matter mixed in.

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Conclusion

Topsoil orders are only as accurate as the area and depth measurements behind them, so getting those two inputs right accounts for most of the work. This calculator converts that measurement into both the cubic yard and approximate weight figures needed to place a confident bulk order.