Topsoil Calculator
Enter your area and desired soil depth to get cubic yards or bags of topsoil to order.
Enter your measurements to see what to buy.
How to calculate it
Enter your area and desired soil depth to get cubic yards or bags of topsoil to order.
Source: Volume = area × depth; 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. Bagged topsoil is commonly 0.75 or 1 cu ft.
A 10×10 ft new lawn bed at 6 in deep = 50 ft³ = 1.85 yd³. With 5% settling: 1.94 yd³, or about 26 bags of 0.75 cu ft.
Want the full step-by-step walkthrough? Read our How Much Mulch Do I Need? A Bed-by-Bed Guide.
Purchasing & waste guidance
- New lawns: 4–6 in of quality topsoil before seeding or sodding.
- Garden beds: 6–8 in, ideally blended with compost.
- Leveling low spots: 1–2 in at a time so existing grass can grow through.
- One cubic yard covers about 54 ft² at 6 in deep, or 162 ft² at 2 in.
- A cubic yard of topsoil weighs roughly 2,000 lb — bulk delivery beats bags for anything over a yard or two.
Assumptions & what’s included
- Area is a single rectangle; depth is the finished soil depth.
- Waste/settling allowance accounts for compaction after spreading.
- Price is per cubic yard (bulk) or per bag and optional.
Frequently asked questions
How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?
For 4–6 in of topsoil, a 10×10 ft area needs about 1.2–1.9 cubic yards. The calculator handles any size and depth.
How many bags of topsoil equal a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 27 bags of 1 cu ft topsoil to make a cubic yard.
How deep should topsoil be for a garden bed?
6–8 in is ideal for garden beds, blended with compost. For leveling an existing lawn, add only 1–2 in at a time so grass can grow through.
Related guides
Step-by-step project guides that use this calculator.