Topsoil Calculator.
From filling a bed to leveling a space, find the soil volume your project calls for.
Your project
Order optionsBags & extra material
Use the fill depth your project needs. The example is not a recommended planting depth.
Allowance applies to both options. Order increments and supplier minimums apply only to bulk orders. Bag counts always round up.
Compare material costsOptional
Enter quotes for the same material. All prices are in US dollars; tax and unlisted fees are excluded.
Enter a price to see its total. Add both prices to compare.
Project estimate
CUBIC YARDS — PROJECT ESTIMATE Material: Topsoil Area 1: 20 × 10 ft × 6 in depth Calculated volume: 3.70 yd³ Allowance: 0% Bulk order increment: 0 yd³; supplier minimum: 0 yd³ Bulk order: 3.70 yd³ Bag equivalent: 100 bags at 1 ft³ each Price estimates exclude tax and unlisted fees. Confirm material, quantity, and delivery with your supplier. Open the calculator website to edit this estimate.
A solid start, from the ground up.
Measure the footprint of the area you want to fill and the additional depth it needs. For an existing bed, measure from the current soil surface to your intended finished level.
This tool calculates volume; it does not select the right soil blend or planting depth. Ask your supplier about the product, settling, and whether your specified depth is before or after compaction. The 6-inch example is a sample measurement.
A worked example.
A bed measuring 8 × 4 ft with 12 inches of fill needs 32 cubic feet, or about 1.19 cubic yards. At 1 cubic foot per bag, that is 32 whole bags before an allowance.
For multiple areas, calculate each area separately and add the volumes. Keep the unrounded values until the final total.
How much does one yard cover?
| Material depth | Coverage per yd³ |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 square feet |
| 2 inches | 162 square feet |
| 3 inches | 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | 81 square feet |
| 6 inches | 54 square feet |
| 12 inches | 27 square feet |
Calculated coverage before allowances, settling, or compaction.
A few good questions.
Does the calculator include soil settling?
No settling factor is built in. Start with your measured volume and add an allowance only if appropriate for the product and job. Confirm loose-delivered versus finished volume with your supplier.
How do I compare bulk and bagged prices?
Open Compare material costs. Enter a price per cubic yard and a price per bag, then add delivery or other known fees for each option. Set the bag volume and any bulk minimum under Order options.
Are delivery and local prices included automatically?
No. Enter current quotes from your supplier. Price totals include only your entered prices and fees, and exclude tax. Check availability and the final delivered total before ordering.
A little know-how goes a long way.
How to measure your project
Rectangles, curves, and uneven depths. Turn your space into an accurate estimate.
Bulk or bags: which makes sense?
Compare the whole cost, including delivery, minimum orders, and leftover material.
What’s going in your yard?
Mulch calculator
Freshen up your beds. Find your yardage and compare bags with a bulk delivery.
Topsoil calculator
Fill a bed or level a space. Add up your areas and plan how much soil to order.
Gravel calculator
Plan a path or gravel area. Calculate volume and use supplier density to estimate weight.
Our conversions use NIST unit definitions. Results are estimates based on your measurements. Read our calculation methodology.