Topsoil Calculator

About this topsoil calculator

Every topsoil order is one formula: length × width × depth, divided by 27 (cubic feet per cubic yard). A 20×10 ft bed at 3 inches deep is 50 cubic feet — 1.85 cubic yards. This calculator does that conversion, adds a settling allowance (loose topsoil compacts as it is graded and watered, so the order is always larger than the in-place math), and converts to tons for delivery and bags for small jobs. Our topsoil guide covers depth targets by project and the bulk-vs-bag break-even.

Depth is the input people get wrong. Thin cover and leveling need 2–3 inches; a new lawn wants 4–6 inches of firmed topsoil; vegetable beds want 6–12 inches; raised beds get filled to the box depth (often 12+ inches). Measuring depth in inches but area in feet is the classic unit slip — this calculator takes inches directly so the conversion is handled for you.

Bags vs bulk is a cost cliff: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 27 one-cubic-foot bags (or 36 forty-pound bags) to equal one yard — and bagged soil costs several times more per yard than bulk. Below about a yard, bags win on convenience; above it, bulk delivery wins on price, even with a delivery fee.

How to use

1. Measure your area length and width in feet.
2. Enter the depth in inches for your project (see the depth guide on this page).
3. Pick a settling allowance (10% is standard) and your bag size for the bag count.
4. Optionally enter the bulk price per cubic yard, then press Calculate.

Good to know

• Assumes a flat rectangular area at uniform depth; slopes and irregular beds should be measured in sections.
• Tonnage uses a ~1.35 tons-per-yard moist planning factor; wet or compost-rich soil weighs more.
• Bulk prices exclude delivery unless your supplier says otherwise — delivery often runs $50–$150.