YardMath

Topsoil calculator

Form 12 · Materials estimateFigures checked 2026-09-04
US customary
Quantity · Amount
  1. 01Area to cover20 × 10 ft200 sq ft
  2. 02Topsoil needed at 4 in deep70 cu ft including 5 % extra2.59 cu yd
  3. 03Weight1.1 tons per cu yd2.85 tons
  4. 04Bulk topsoil$35 per cu yd2.59 cu yd$91
  5. 050.75 cu ft (40 lb) bags0.75 cu ft per bag at $494 bags$329
Total, bulk$91
  • About 2 level pickup loads (2 cu yd each) or one dump-truck delivery (10–14 cu yd).
Bag size
Buy as
Bulk is priced per cubic yard
Total, bulk2.59 cu yd of topsoil$91
Where these figures come from
  • Density 1.1 tons per cu yd for dry screened topsoil (rule of thumb; 1.0–1.5 depending on moisture and organic content).
  • Bag: 40 lb ≈ 0.75 cu ft, the common US bag; 1 cu ft bags also sold.
  • Prices are typical US retail and bulk figures at the date on this sheet.

Type the area and the depth you want to add. For a new lawn, 4–6 inches of topsoil; for over-seeding, a quarter to half an inch of screened soil; for a raised bed, the full depth of the box. The sheet turns that into cubic yards, weight, bags and cost.

Worked examples

New lawn 30 × 40 ft, 4 in of topsoil
15.6 cu yd — topsoil needed at 4 in deep, about $544 in bulk.
Raised bed 4 × 8 ft, 12 in deep
1.24 cu yd — topsoil needed at 12 in deep, about $44 in bulk.
Top-dress 20 × 50 ft at ½ in
1.62 cu yd — topsoil needed at 0.5 in deep, about $57 in bulk.

How it is worked out

Area (length × width × number of areas) × depth in feet = cubic feet; add the settling allowance; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Weight = cubic yards × the density you see in the material fields. Bags = cubic feet ÷ the bag's cubic feet, rounded up. Cost = the bulk quantity × your bulk price, or bags × your bag price, whichever you marked.

The figures behind it

  • Density 1.1 tons per cu yd for dry screened topsoil (rule of thumb; 1.0–1.5 depending on moisture and organic content).
  • Bag: 40 lb ≈ 0.75 cu ft, the common US bag; 1 cu ft bags also sold.
  • Prices are typical US retail and bulk figures at the date on this sheet.

Every figure here is an estimate. Materials vary with moisture, compaction and product; order a little extra and confirm quantities with your supplier.

Questions people ask

How many 40 lb bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
A 40 lb bag holds about 0.75 cu ft, so roughly 36 bags per cubic yard. Bulk is far cheaper for anything more than a bed or two.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
About 1.1 tons (2,200 lb) dry and screened; up to 1.5 tons when wet. A level full-size pickup can carry about one cubic yard of soil safely.
How much topsoil for a raised bed?
Length × width × depth in feet, so a 4 × 8 ft bed 1 ft deep needs 32 cu ft, or about 1.2 cu yd. Many gardeners fill the bottom third with cheaper fill and use garden mix on top.

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