Lawn patch: 500 ft², 4 in deep
Choose Known Area when you already have the square footage. Four inches is 0.3333 ft.
500 ft² × 0.3333 ft = 166.67 ft³ ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³
At 1.1 tons per cubic yard that is about 6.79 tons.
Topsoil Calculator
Free topsoil calculator: find out how much topsoil you need in cubic yards and tons for a lawn, garden or raised bed.
Enter Your Area to Calculate Topsoil
Enter your dimensions, then press Calculate.
Calculate a Rectangle Area
3D view- LLength—
- WWidth—
- DDepth—
Area = length × width · Volume = area × depth
Topsoil Needed by Area and Depth
The short answer is area times depth. A 1,000 square foot lawn needs about 12.3 cubic yards at 4 inches deep and 18.5 at 6 inches. Soil gets heavy quickly, so it helps to see the number before the truck arrives. The table below shows how the total grows with area and depth.
| Area | 2 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ | 12.35 yd³ | 18.52 yd³ |
| 2,000 sq ft | 12.35 yd³ | 24.69 yd³ | 37.04 yd³ |
Real areas are rarely round numbers, so use the topsoil calculator above for your own measurements. If you want the volume math explained from scratch, the cubic yard calculation guide covers it step by step, and our guide to how much topsoil you need compares topsoil, garden soil and fill dirt.
How to Use This Topsoil Calculator
Enter the area and the depth you plan to spread, and it returns cubic yards for a bulk order and the weight in tons for checking a truck or trailer load.
- Choose the shape of the area. Rectangle suits most lawns and beds, circle suits round beds, and Known Area lets you type a square footage you already have.
- Enter the sizes and pick a unit for each field. Feet, inches, yards, millimeters, centimeters and meters can be mixed.
- Enter the depth of topsoil you plan to spread, usually in inches.
- Open the optional section to set the density your supplier quotes, add a waste percentage of your own, or enter a price per cubic yard or per ton.
- Press Calculate, then read the cubic yards, the weight in tons and the metric tonnes.
Try a few depths, pressing Calculate each time, before you place an order. The same sum works for compost and fill dirt too.
Calculate Cubic Yards of Topsoil by Hand
If you would rather work it out on paper, these three lines are all it takes.
Cubic feet = area (ft²) × depth (ft)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per yd³)
Depth has to be in feet, so 4 inches is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.3333 ft. Topsoil is usually sold by the cubic yard and sometimes by the ton. Its weight swings a lot with moisture, which is why the density field is editable. For a quick volume with no weight, the cubic yard calculator uses the same sum.
Topsoil Area Shapes and Formulas
Lawns and gardens come in all sorts of outlines. Choose the drawing closest to your plot, measure the lettered sides and enter them in the topsoil calculator. For an odd outline, split it into two or three of these shapes and add the results. If you already know the area, our guide to converting square feet to cubic yards skips the shapes.
Rectangle
Lawns, vegetable plots and raised beds.
Area = L × W
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
L = length (ft) · W = width (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: L = 40 ft, W = 30 ft, D = 6 in. Area = 1,200 ft². Volume = 1,200 × 6 ÷ 12 = 600 ft³, which is 22.22 yd³.
Square
Square raised beds and planters.
Area = S × S
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
S = side length (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: S = 4 ft, D = 12 in. Area = 16 ft². Volume = 16 × 12 ÷ 12 = 16 ft³, which is 0.59 yd³.
Circle
Round flower beds.
Area = π × (Ø ÷ 2)²
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
Ø = diameter (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: Ø = 8 ft, D = 6 in. Area = 50.27 ft². Volume = 50.27 × 6 ÷ 12 = 25.14 ft³, which is 0.93 yd³.
Triangle
Corner beds and plots that come to a point.
Area = ½ × B × H
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
B = base (ft) · H = triangle height (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: B = 14 ft, H = 10 ft, D = 6 in. Area = 70 ft². Volume = 70 × 6 ÷ 12 = 35 ft³, which is 1.3 yd³.
Trapezoid
Plots that narrow toward one end.
Area = ½ × (B₁ + B₂) × H
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
B₁ = base 1 (ft) · B₂ = base 2 (ft) · H = trapezoid height (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: B₁ = 20 ft, B₂ = 12 ft, H = 10 ft, D = 4 in. Area = 160 ft². Volume = 160 × 4 ÷ 12 = 53.33 ft³, which is 1.98 yd³.
Topsoil Depth for Lawns, Gardens and Raised Beds
How deep to go depends on what the soil is for. A top dressing on an existing lawn is often under an inch, while a raised bed is filled to the top of its frame. Use these figures as starting points and check local advice.
New lawns
Many guides suggest roughly four to six inches of topsoil when building a lawn from scratch, whether you will sow seed or lay sod. A thinner layer can work over decent soil, but it leaves the grass less to root into. For sod, rake the topsoil level and firm it before the rolls go down, so they sit flat and knit in.
Patching and top dressing
Repairing an existing lawn is different. A light top dressing is far thinner, often well under an inch, so the volume is small. Enter the real depth and the calculator will show it.
Garden beds
Vegetable and flower beds are commonly worked to six inches or more, and deeper layers help plants with long roots. If you are improving existing soil rather than replacing it, measure only the layer you are adding.
Raised beds
A raised bed is filled to near its full height, so use the height of the frame as the depth. Because the sides are fixed, this is one of the easiest jobs to calculate. For a round or ring shaped planter, choose Circle or Annulus (Ring).
Topsoil Coverage: What One Yard Covers
Coverage is volume divided by depth, so thin layers stretch a long way. Here is what one cubic yard covers, and what a ton covers at 1.1 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers (at 1.1 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | about 295 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | about 147 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | about 74 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | about 49 sq ft |
| 8 in | 40.5 sq ft | about 37 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft | about 25 sq ft |
Topsoil Weight and Bags per Yard
Suppliers sell by the yard, by the ton, or both, and garden centers sell bags. The calculator converts for you, and these tables show the logic. Moist soil is heavier than dry, so two columns are shown.
| Cubic yards | 1.1 t/yd³ | 1.25 t/yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.1 tons | 1.25 tons |
| 2 | 2.2 tons | 2.5 tons |
| 5 | 5.5 tons | 6.25 tons |
| 10 | 11 tons | 12.5 tons |
| 20 | 22 tons | 25 tons |
| Bag size | Bags in 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 0.75 ft³ | 36 |
| 1 ft³ | 27 |
| 1.5 ft³ | 18 |
| 2 ft³ | 13.5 |
Topsoil Calculator Examples
New lawn: 40 ft × 25 ft, 5 in deep
A rectangle of 1,000 ft². Five inches is 0.4167 ft, so the volume is 1,000 × 0.4167 ft³.
1,000 ft² × 0.4167 ft = 416.67 ft³ ÷ 27 = 15.43 yd³
At 1.1 tons per cubic yard that is about 16.98 tons.
Raised bed: 8 ft × 4 ft, 12 in deep
A bed filled to its full height: 32 ft² × 1 ft = 32 cubic feet.
32 ft² × 1 ft = 32 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.19 yd³
At 1.1 tons per cubic yard that is about 1.3 tons.
Round bed: 10 ft across, 6 in deep, with a 10% cushion
Fresh soil settles, so this example adds a 10% allowance of your own. Leave the field blank and nothing is added.
78.5398 ft² × 0.5 ft = 39.27 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.45 yd³
With 10% allowance: 1.6 cubic yards. At 1.1 tons per cubic yard that is about 1.76 tons.
Should You Order Extra Topsoil?
Often, yes, a little. Delivered soil is loose and fluffy, then settles after the first few waterings. Ground is rarely perfectly level either, and low spots swallow more than you expect. Enter your own percentage in the optional waste field. It starts at 0%, so the calculator never adds extra on its own, and weight and cost are based on the total including your allowance.
Tips for an Accurate Topsoil Estimate
- Split an irregular lawn into rectangles and circles, measure each one and add the areas together.
- Check the existing soil level so you only count the layer you are actually adding.
- Ask your supplier for the density of the mix and whether they sell by the yard or by the ton.
- If you only know the sides of an area, the Square Feet Calculator finds the square footage to type into Known Area.
Topsoil Calculator FAQ
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
It depends on the soil mix and how wet it is. Dry topsoil is often quoted around 1.1 tons per cubic yard and moist topsoil nearer 1.25, and this topsoil calculator starts at 1.1. Type your supplier's figure into the density field for a closer estimate.
How deep should topsoil be for a lawn?
Many guides suggest about four to six inches for a new lawn, and deeper for gardens and raised beds. If you are only repairing a thin or patchy lawn, a much thinner top dressing is usually enough. Check advice for your grass type and region.
Can I put topsoil straight over grass?
A thin layer of a quarter to half an inch can go straight over a lawn, and the grass grows up through it. Anything thicker tends to smother the grass, so for a new lawn at 4 inches or more, remove or till the old turf first.
How many square feet does one cubic yard of topsoil cover?
It is 27 cubic feet divided by the depth in feet. At 4 inches deep a cubic yard covers 81 square feet, and at 6 inches it covers 54 square feet.
Can I use it for compost or fill dirt?
Yes. The volume sum is the same for any loose material, so this works for compost, fill dirt and garden soil too. Only the weight changes, so adjust the density to match.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it equals 36 bags of 0.75 ft³, 27 bags of 1 ft³, 18 bags of 1.5 ft³ or 13.5 bags of 2 ft³. Check the volume printed on your bag, because sizes differ by brand.
Related Guides
- How Much Topsoil Do I Need?Calculate how much topsoil you need for lawns, gardens, raised beds and landscaping from length, width and depth, with recommended depths and examples.
- Cubic Yards to Tons: How to Convert Different MaterialsConvert cubic yards to tons for gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch and concrete, with a weight chart by material and why wet material weighs more.
- How Many Bags Are in a Cubic Yard?See how many bags of mulch, soil, sand and concrete make one cubic yard, for every common bag size, and how to turn any order into a bag count.
- How to Calculate Cubic Yards: Complete GuideCalculate cubic yards from length, width and depth with one formula, a shortcut for inches, metric conversions, worked examples and common mistakes.
More Calculators
- CY CalculatorCubic yards, feet and meters from any shape.
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- Square Feet CalculatorArea of any shape in ft², yd², m² and acres.
Cite this page
APA style
Khan, M. A. (2026, October 19). Topsoil Calculator. CY Calculator. https://cycalculator.com/topsoil-calculator