How far will the soil I have go?
Already bought bags or a yard? Enter what you have and the depth to see how much ground it covers.
How the soil calculator works
The calculator finds the area of each shape, multiplies by how many you have, subtracts any cut-outs, then multiplies by the depth. It adds your settling allowance and converts to cubic yards, cubic meters and liters. Bags, weight, loads and wheelbarrows all come from that same volume.
With settling = volume × (1 + settling %)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Area formulas used for each shape
| Shape | Formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | length × width |
| Circle | π × (diameter ÷ 2)² |
| Triangle | ½ × base × height |
| Known area | entered directly in sq ft (or sq m if you chose meters) |
Worked examples
Example 1: a 4 × 8 ft raised bed, 12 inches deep
4 × 8 × 1 ft = 32 cu ft. Add 10% for settling: 35.2 cu ft, which is 1.30 cubic yards, so order 1.5 yd³ in bulk. In bags that is 47 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 36 bags of 1 cu ft, or 18 bags of 2 cu ft. At 80 lb per cu ft the soil weighs about 2,816 lb, or 1.4 tons.
Example 2: topsoil for a new 40 × 30 ft lawn, 4 inches deep
40 × 30 = 1,200 sq ft. At 4 in (⅓ ft) deep that is 400 cu ft, or 440 cu ft with 10% extra. That is 16.3 cubic yards, so order 16.5 yd³, which is two truckloads if your truck carries 10 yards. Before ordering, check what your supplier's loads actually hold.
Example 3: a round bed 6 ft across, 8 inches deep
Area = π × 3² = 28.3 sq ft. At 8 in deep that is 18.85 cu ft, or 20.7 cu ft with 10% extra. That is 0.77 cubic yards, or 21 bags of 1 cu ft.
How far does a cubic yard of soil go?
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| ½ in | 648 sq ft |
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
These are before settling. Divide 324 by the depth in inches for a quick estimate.
How many bags in a cubic yard?
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 0.5 cu ft | 54 |
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 14 (13.5, rounded up) |
| 3 cu ft | 9 |
Bulk soil is usually cheaper per cubic foot once you need more than a few yards, but small beds are often easier to fill from bags. Enter both prices above to compare.
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
The calculator's default densities are rough figures for damp material. Real weight depends on moisture and how the soil was screened.
| Material | Density used | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Compost | 40 lb/cu ft | 1,080 lb (0.54 ton) |
| Garden soil mix | 60 lb/cu ft | 1,620 lb (0.81 ton) |
| Topsoil | 80 lb/cu ft | 2,160 lb (1.08 tons) |
| Sand | 100 lb/cu ft | 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) |
Do not load a pickup or trailer by volume alone. A full cubic yard of soil can be heavier than the vehicle's payload.
Typical soil depths by project
| Project | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Raised vegetable bed | 8 to 12 in |
| In-ground garden bed | 6 to 8 in |
| New lawn (topsoil layer) | 4 to 6 in |
| Leveling low spots | 1 to 2 in at a time |
| Top-dressing an existing lawn | about ½ in |
These are common ranges, not rules. Deep-rooted crops, rocky ground and poor existing soil can all call for more.
Mistakes that leave you with too little (or too much) soil
- Mixing feet and inches. Depth is the usual culprit: 6 inches is 0.5 ft, not 6. Pick the depth unit in the tool and check the result looks sensible.
- Forgetting settling. Fresh soil sinks after the first few waterings. A 10 to 20% buffer saves a second delivery.
- Ordering cubic feet from a yard supplier. Bulk is sold by the cubic yard. Divide cubic feet by 27.
- Ignoring weight. One yard of topsoil can weigh over a ton, which matters for vehicles and driveways.
- Filling a bed to the brim. Leave a little room below the rim so water and mulch stay in place.
How far does a bag or a yard of soil go?
Coverage depends on depth: spread the same soil half as deep and it goes twice as far. This table uses bags of 0.75 cubic feet, which is common for a 40 lb bag. Check the cubic feet printed on your bag, and use the calculator above for your exact bed.
| You have | Covers at 2 in deep | Covers at 4 in deep | Covers at 6 in deep | Covers at 12 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 bags (0.75 cu ft each) | 45 sq ft | 23 sq ft | 15 sq ft | 8 sq ft |
| 20 bags | 90 sq ft | 45 sq ft | 30 sq ft | 15 sq ft |
| 36 bags (about 1 cubic yard) | 162 sq ft | 81 sq ft | 54 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
| 2 cubic yards | 324 sq ft | 162 sq ft | 108 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| 5 cubic yards | 810 sq ft | 405 sq ft | 270 sq ft | 135 sq ft |
No settling allowance is included here. Loose soil settles, so order about 10% extra for beds.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of soil are in 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, or 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet. Bag sizes vary by brand, so check the label.
Should I buy soil by the cubic yard or by the ton?
Most suppliers sell bulk soil by the cubic yard. Some sell by the ton, which depends on moisture and soil type. As a rough guide, a cubic yard of topsoil weighs around 1 to 1.4 tons. Ask your supplier which unit the price uses.
How much extra soil should I order for settling?
Many gardeners add about 10 to 20% to raised beds and fill, because loose soil settles and compacts after watering. The calculator adds 10% by default and lets you change it.
How deep should soil be in a raised bed or for a new lawn?
Typical figures are 8 to 12 inches for a raised vegetable bed, 6 to 8 inches for an in-ground garden bed, 4 to 6 inches of topsoil for a new lawn, and about half an inch for top-dressing an existing lawn. Check what your plants and soil need.
What is the difference between topsoil, garden soil and potting mix?
Topsoil is natural soil, good for filling and leveling. Garden soil is usually topsoil blended with compost for planting. Potting mix is a light soilless blend for containers. For raised beds many people mix topsoil, compost and sand or similar material.
How many wheelbarrow loads are in a cubic yard?
A typical wheelbarrow holds around 6 cubic feet when heaped, so a cubic yard (27 cubic feet) is about 4.5 loads. Enter your wheelbarrow size in the calculator for an exact count.
How many 40 lb bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
Go by the cubic feet printed on the bag, not the pounds. Many 40 lb bags hold 0.75 cubic feet, so a cubic yard (27 cubic feet) is 36 bags. A 50 lb bag is often about 1 cubic foot, so that is 27 bags. Bulk topsoil is much heavier per cubic foot than bagged mixes, so do not divide the weight of a yard by the weight of a bag.
How much will a 40 lb bag of topsoil cover?
At 0.75 cubic feet, a bag covers about 9 square feet at 1 inch deep, 4.5 square feet at 2 inches, 3 square feet at 3 inches and 1.5 square feet at 6 inches. Check your bag, because sizes vary by brand.
How many bags of soil do I need to fill a 4x8 raised bed?
A 4 by 8 foot bed is 32 square feet. At 10 inches deep it holds about 26.7 cubic feet, which is 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. At 6 inches it is 22 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, and at 12 inches it is 43. Add about 10% for settling.
Is it cheaper to buy soil in bags or in bulk?
Bulk is usually cheaper per cubic foot once you need around a cubic yard or more, but delivery fees and minimum orders can change that. For example, 36 bags at $6 each is $216 for one yard. Enter your bag and bulk prices in the calculator to compare for your own job.
How can I fill a raised garden bed cheaply?
Order bulk soil or a bulk soil and compost mix instead of bags. You can fill the bottom third of a deep bed with logs, branches and leaves, which saves soil as they break down, and mix topsoil with compost for the top layer. Use the mix splitter in the calculator to see the amount of each.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
The calculator uses 80 pounds per cubic foot for topsoil, which is about 2,160 pounds per cubic yard. Three yards is about 6,500 pounds. Wet or clay-heavy soil weighs more, and compost weighs less, so ask your supplier for their figure.
Can a pickup truck carry a cubic yard of soil?
By volume, many full-size pickups hold a yard or two, but weight is the limit. A yard of dry topsoil is around 2,000 pounds and wet soil is more, which is near or over the payload of many half-ton trucks. Check the payload on the sticker inside your driver’s door and load a little less than a full yard.
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