Topsoil Calculator
How much topsoil for a lawn or garden bed? Enter the area and depth and get cubic yards and a tonnage range — wet soil is heavier, and topsoil settles after spreading.
4–6 in for a new lawn, 6–12 in for garden beds. Topsoil settles 10–20% after spreading.
Topsoil for 200 sq ft at 6 in deep
3.70 cu yd — 100 cu ft · 2.83 cu m
3.7–4.8 tons — weight range — wet soil is heavier
Or in bags: 134 bags of 40 lb (0.75 cu ft) — bags are for patching, not for a whole lawn. One cubic yard covers about 50 sq ft at 6 in deep. Topsoil settles 10–20% after rain and foot traffic, so order slightly over and top up later rather than under.
Estimate. Weight is a range because soil density changes with moisture (about 1.0–1.3 tons per cubic yard). Ask the supplier whether the soil is screened — unscreened soil can be full of stones and roots.
Formula used: Volume = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) cubic feet. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × 1.0–1.3 (moisture-dependent density range).
How this estimate works: Topsoil volume is area times depth, converted to cubic yards — the unit bulk suppliers sell in. Weight is a range because a yard of wet soil can weigh a third more than a yard of dry soil, and delivery trucks are loaded by weight. The depth you pick should allow for settling: a 6-inch layer ends up closer to 5 inches.
How the topsoil calculator works
Topsoil volume is area times depth, converted to cubic yards — the unit bulk suppliers sell in. Weight is a range because a yard of wet soil can weigh a third more than a yard of dry soil, at about 1.0–1.3 tons per cubic yard, and delivery trucks are loaded by weight. The depth you pick should allow for settling: a 6-inch layer ends up closer to 5 inches. Ask the supplier whether the soil is screened — unscreened soil can be full of stones and roots.
Try next: Mulch Calculator · Gravel Calculator · Sand Calculator
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