Topsoil Calculator

Figure out exactly how much topsoil to order for a lawn, garden bed, or raised planter. Pick a shape, enter dimensions and depth, and you'll get cubic feet, cubic yards, 40-lb bag count, and an estimated cost — with a waste factor included so you don't fall short.

Topsoil Volume Calculator

Area shape

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Desired depth (inches)

Waste factor (%)

Bulk price per cubic yard ($)

Price per 40 lb bag ($)

Topsoil Needed

Cubic feet—

Cubic yards—

40 lb bags (~0.75 cu ft each)—

Estimated bulk cost—

Estimated bagged cost—

Bulk topsoil is dramatically cheaper than bagged once you need more than about 1 cubic yard (roughly 36 forty-pound bags). For lawn repair, 2–3 inches over compacted soil is typical; raised beds usually want 12+ inches of mixed topsoil and compost.

How Much Topsoil Do You Need?

Topsoil volume is just area × depth, then divided by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. A 200 sq ft garden bed at 4 inches deep needs (200 × 4/12) ÷ 27 ≈ 2.5 cubic yards — about a small pickup load. Add 10% waste for settling and uneven sub-grade.

Bulk vs. Bagged

A 40-pound bag of topsoil holds roughly 0.75 cubic feet — so it takes about 36 bags to equal one cubic yard. Bulk delivery typically beats bagged on price once you cross 1 cubic yard, and most landscape suppliers offer screened topsoil for $30–$50 per yard delivered.