How to calculate how much topsoil you need
Soil is sold by volume: cubic yards in bulk and cubic feet in bags. Work out the area, multiply by the depth, add a little for settling and convert. Here is the math with the calculator's starting project: two 8 x 4 ft raised beds filled 12 inches deep with a 70/30 mix of topsoil and compost.
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1
Find the area
8 × 4 = 32 sq ft per bed, and two beds make 64 sq ft. For a circle, use 3.14 × radius × radius.
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2
Multiply by the depth in feet
12 inches is 1 ft, so 64 × 1 = 64 cubic feet.
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3
Add for settling
A loose topsoil and compost mix sinks as it is watered. With 15% extra: 64 × 1.15 = 73.6 cubic feet.
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4
Convert to yards or bags
73.6 ÷ 27 = 2.73 cubic yards. In 1.5 cu ft bags, 73.6 ÷ 1.5 = 49.1, so 50 bags.
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5
Compare the cost
50 bags of raised bed soil at $10.99 is about $550. In bulk, round up to 3 yards: 2.1 yd of topsoil and 0.9 yd of compost at $30 each is $90, plus $120 delivery, so $210.
Shortcut for flat areas: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. A yard of soil covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep.
How far does a yard of soil go?
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ inch | 1,296 sq ft | Top dressing a lawn |
| ½ inch | 648 sq ft | Filling shallow dips |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Compost worked into a bed |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | Base for a new lawn |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | New garden bed |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | Raised bed |
In bags, a cubic yard is 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
Soil for common raised beds
Including 15% for settling. Tap a size to load it into the calculator.
| Bed | Cu ft | Cu yd | 1.5 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 ft, 6 in deep | 9.2 | 0.34 | 7 |
| 4 x 4 ft, 12 in deep | 18.4 | 0.68 | 13 |
| 3 x 6 ft, 12 in deep | 20.7 | 0.77 | 14 |
| 4 x 8 ft, 6 in deep | 18.4 | 0.68 | 13 |
| 4 x 8 ft, 12 in deep | 36.8 | 1.36 | 25 |
| 4 x 8 ft, 18 in deep | 55.2 | 2.04 | 37 |
Past one 4 x 8 bed, bulk delivery almost always wins. A single 4 x 8 bed 12 inches deep takes 25 bags, which is a lot of lifting and around $275 at $10.99 a bag.
The right soil for each job
- Raised beds: blend topsoil with compost. Iowa State University Extension suggests about 70% topsoil and 30% compost, or equal parts topsoil, compost and coarse sand. Mix it before it goes in instead of layering it. Bagged "raised bed soil" works but is mostly bark and peat, and it shrinks more.
- New garden beds: loosen the native soil and work in a few inches of compost, or build up 6 inches or more of blended soil on poor ground.
- New lawns: University of Nebraska turf specialists call for at least 4 inches of topsoil after rough grading, worked into the subsoil so there is no sharp layer.
- Leveling a lawn: top dress with screened topsoil, compost or a sand blend, about ¼ inch at a time so the grass blades still show. Fill deeper dips over several passes a few weeks apart, or lift the sod, fill underneath and lay it back.
- Fill: use fill dirt (subsoil, often with clay and rock) for holes, raising grade and backfilling walls. It is cheap and compacts well but grows poor plants, so cap it with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil where anything will grow.
What soil costs
| Material | Bulk, per cubic yard | Weight per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Unscreened topsoil | $10–$28 | 1–1.4 tons |
| Screened topsoil | $20–$40 | 1–1.4 tons |
| Planting soil or garden blend | $30–$50 | about 1 ton |
| Compost | $20–$42 | about ½ ton |
| Fill dirt | $5–$18 | 1.1–1.5 tons |
Delivery usually adds $80 to $170, and many yards have a minimum. Bagged topsoil costs $2 to $5 a bag, which works out to roughly $70 to $170 per cubic yard. Bags make sense for a single bed or patching. For a few yards or more, bulk is far cheaper. Hiring a crew to grade and spread soil adds labor, often $60 to $125 an hour.
Weight: can your truck carry it?
A mineral soil with half of its volume as pore space weighs about 1.33 grams per cubic centimeter dry, by USDA's soil bulk density guide. That is about 2,250 lb per cubic yard before you add water. Moist topsoil often runs 2,400 lb or more, so we use 1.2 tons per yard for topsoil, 0.5 for compost and 1.3 for fill. Most half-ton pickups are rated for roughly 1,500 lb of payload or less, which is about half a yard of wet topsoil. Check the payload sticker in the door jamb before you load up.
Tips from the pros
- See it before you buy it. Ask for screened topsoil and look at the pile. It should be crumbly and dark, without rocks, roots, trash or weed runners. Topsoil is not a regulated product, so quality varies a lot.
- Watch for "black dirt". University of Minnesota Extension warns that soil sold as black dirt is generally not suitable as topsoil because it compacts too easily and slows water soaking in.
- Do not bury your siding. Keep soil at least 6 inches below siding and slope it away from the foundation so water drains out, not in.
- Blend, don't layer. A sharp line between two soils stops water and roots. Rough up the ground below and mix the first few inches in.
- Plan the drop. A dump truck needs a clear, firm spot. Lay a tarp on the driveway, and expect about five wheelbarrow trips per cubic yard.
- Top up yearly. Beds lose an inch or two a year as compost breaks down. Add compost each spring rather than reordering a full fill.
Common questions
How much area does a yard of topsoil cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 81 square feet at 4 inches and 54 square feet at 6 inches. Fill a raised bed 12 inches deep and a yard covers only 27 square feet.
How many bags of soil make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That is 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet or 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 to 1.4 tons, or about 2,000 to 2,800 pounds, depending on how sandy, wet and compacted it is. Compost weighs about half as much. A half-ton pickup cannot safely carry a full yard of topsoil.
What is the best soil mix for a raised bed?
A simple, proven mix is about 70 percent good topsoil and 30 percent compost, or two parts topsoil to one part compost. Mix it before it goes in the bed rather than layering it, and top it up with compost each year.
How much does topsoil cost?
Bulk screened topsoil usually costs $20 to $40 per cubic yard, plus $80 to $170 for delivery. Bagged topsoil runs $2 to $5 a bag, which works out to roughly $70 to $170 per yard, so bags only make sense for small jobs.
Should I order extra soil for settling?
Yes for beds and fills. Loose soil and compost settle as they are watered and as organic matter breaks down, so most landscapers order about 10 to 20 percent extra. Thin top dressing on a lawn does not need extra.
Sources and assumptions
Prices are U.S. national averages checked in October 2026. Soil is a local product and prices swing a lot by region, so every price in the calculator can be changed.
- Bulk prices by type (unscreened $10–$28, screened $20–$40, planting soil $30–$50, compost $20–$42, fill $5–$18 per cubic yard), bagged topsoil ($2–$5 a bag), delivery ($80–$170) and grading labor ($60–$125 an hour): Lawn Love, How Much Does Topsoil Cost in 2026?, updated October 2026.
- Raised bed soil, 1.5 cu ft bag at $10.99: Ace Hardware listing, checked October 2026 (other stores ranged from about $9 to $13).
- Raised bed mix (about 70% topsoil and 30% compost) and blending instead of layering: Iowa State University Extension, What would be a good soil mix for a raised bed?
- 4 inches of topsoil minimum for a new lawn: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Establishing Lawns From Sod. Mixing the first 2 inches of topsoil into the subsoil and the "black dirt" warning: University of Minnesota Extension, lawn establishment bulletin (archived).
- Top dressing about ¼ inch at a time: Ask Extension (Cooperative Extension), top dressing a lawn.
- Soil bulk density (about 1.33 g/cm³ for a medium-textured soil at 50% pore space): USDA NRCS, Soil Quality Indicators: Bulk Density.
- Assumptions (our estimates): weights of 1.2 tons per cubic yard for moist topsoil, 0.5 for compost and 1.3 for fill dirt; 1,500 lb as a typical half-ton pickup payload; settling allowance of 10–20% for loose beds and fills; bag prices of $3.50 (0.75 cu ft), $6 (1 cu ft) and $12 (2 cu ft); bulk orders rounded up to the next half yard with a 1-yard minimum, and a blend priced as its share of topsoil and compost.