How to use
- Choose Imperial or Metric, and a rectangle or a round bed.
- Enter the length and width (or diameter) and the depth of soil.
- Read the cubic yards to order, the weight and the bag count. Change the bag size to match the bags you are buying.
Options explained
- Depth
- 4–6 in (10–15 cm) for a new lawn, 2–3 in (5–8 cm) to top-dress a bed, 8–12 in (20–30 cm) for a raised bed.
- Extra for settling and compaction
- Loose soil settles by 10–20% after watering and walking on. Order that much extra, or top up later.
- Weight per volume
- Starts at 1.1 US tons per cubic yard (1.3 t/m³). Dry, sandy soil is lighter; wet or clay soil can be 1.5 tons or more.
- Bag size
- US topsoil bags are usually 0.75 ft³ (about 40 lb) or 1 ft³; metric bags are commonly 20–50 litres.
Soil for common jobs
Volumes before extra. Weight uses 1.1 US tons per cubic yard; bags are 0.75 ft³.
| Job | Depth | Volume | Weight | 0.75 ft³ bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft raised bed | 6 in | 0.59 yd³ (16 ft³) | 0.65 tons | 22 |
| 4 × 8 ft raised bed | 12 in | 1.19 yd³ (32 ft³) | 1.30 tons | 43 |
| 10 × 10 ft bed | 4 in | 1.23 yd³ (33.3 ft³) | 1.36 tons | 45 |
| 20 × 50 ft lawn | 4 in | 12.3 yd³ (333 ft³) | 13.6 tons | 445 |
| 25 × 40 ft lawn | 6 in | 18.5 yd³ (500 ft³) | 20.4 tons | 667 |
For a lawn or anything over a cubic yard or two, bulk soil delivered by the yard is much cheaper and easier than bags.
Metric examples
A 1.2 × 2.4 m raised bed 30 cm deep holds 0.86 m³ — about 35 bags of 25 litres. A 50 m² lawn with 10 cm of new soil needs 5 m³, about 6.5 tonnes.
Frequently asked questions
How much topsoil do I need for a 4 × 8 raised bed?
At 12 inches deep it is 32 ft³, about 1.19 cubic yards — 43 bags of 0.75 ft³. At 6 inches it is half that.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
27 ft³ per cubic yard, so 36 bags of 0.75 ft³, or 27 bags of 1 ft³.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly a ton (2,000–2,200 lb) when fairly dry, and noticeably more when wet. Check your supplier’s figure if you are hauling it in a trailer.
Topsoil, garden soil or potting mix?
Topsoil is for filling and levelling the ground. Raised beds and pots usually do better with a blend that includes compost; the volume works the same way.
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