Topsoil Calculator
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Enter your lawn or garden dimensions and desired depth to find out how many cubic yards or 40 lb bags of topsoil to buy.
1. Measure your area
2. Choose depth
2" top-dress · 4–6" new garden beds · 8–12" raised beds from scratch
3. Adjust & price (optional)
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How to measure your space
- 1. Lawn areas: Measure length × width in feet. For irregular lawns, break into rectangles and add them with the Irregular option.
- 2. Garden beds and raised beds: Measure interior dimensions. For raised beds being filled from scratch, measure internal length × width × planned depth.
- 3. Depth guidance: 2" to top-dress a lawn · 4–6" for new garden beds · 8–12" for raised beds filled from scratch.
- 4. Bulk vs. bags: Bulk delivery is cheaper per cubic yard for orders over 1–2 yards. Bags are convenient for small areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need?
Volume (cu yd) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324. For a 20×20 ft area at 4 inches deep: 4.9 cubic yards. Use the Topsoil Calculator for any size.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
A cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 2,200 lbs (1.10 tons). Moist or clay-heavy topsoil can weigh up to 2,700 lbs per cubic yard.
How deep should topsoil be for a lawn?
For overseeding an existing lawn: 1–2 inches. For a new lawn from scratch: 4–6 inches. For raised garden beds: 8–12 inches.
How many 40 lb bags of topsoil per cubic yard?
There are 36 bags of 40 lb topsoil in one cubic yard (27 cu ft ÷ 0.75 cu ft per bag = 36 bags). For large areas, bulk delivery is much cheaper.
Formula: Volume (cu yd) = Area × Depth ÷ 324. 40 lb bags = Volume (cu ft) ÷ 0.75, rounded up. See our methodology page.