Topsoil Calculator
Free topsoil calculator for lawns, garden beds, and raised beds. Enter length, width, and depth to get cubic yards of topsoil and a bulk order size.
- Free, no signup
- Formula shown
- Rounds up to whole units
- Updated October 2026
Topsoil needed · 10% allowance
6.79cubic yards
Bulk order
7 yd³
½ cubic yard steps
Cubic meters
5.19 m³
with allowance
- Before allowance
- 6.17 yd³
- Cubic feet
- 183.3 ft³
Enter your supplier's density to estimate weight. Topsoil weight varies with moisture, organic content, and screening, so no default is assumed.
AnswerCovering 25 ft × 20 ft with 4 in of topsoil takes 6.17 cubic yards (6.79 with a 10% allowance), so order 7 cubic yards.
How to use this topsoil calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area to cover, in feet or meters.
- Enter the depth of soil to add. For leveling, measure the depth in several places and use the average.
- Set an allowance for settling, grading, and uneven ground. It is applied before rounding up.
- Pick the increment your supplier sells topsoil in.
- If the supplier sells by weight, enter the density they quote for that product to estimate tons.
How to calculate topsoil: the formula, shown
Topsoil volume is area × depth. With length and width in feet and depth converted from inches to feet, the product is cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. Weight is volume × density, and topsoil density changes with moisture and composition, so weight is shown only for a density you enter.
Default example. A 25 ft × 20 ft area, 4 in deep, with a 10% allowance and no density entered. Change the inputs above and the result panel recalculates; this worked example always shows the default.
Area = 25 ft × 20 ft = 500 ft² Depth = 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.3333 ft Volume = 500 ft² × 0.3333 ft = 166.6667 ft³ = 6.1728 yd³ Allowance = 6.1728 × (1 + 10/100) = 6.7901 yd³ Metric = 6.7901 yd³ × 0.764555 = 5.1914 m³ Bulk order = 6.7901 ÷ 0.5 = 13.58 → 14 steps = 7 yd³
How much topsoil for common areas
Cubic yards of topsoil for common areas at 2, 4, and 6 inches deep, computed with the same formula as the calculator. These figures have no allowance for settling. Add yours before you order.
| Area | 2 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft | 0.2 yd³ | 0.4 yd³ | 0.59 yd³ |
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ |
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 yd³ | 2.47 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 20 × 25 ft | 3.09 yd³ | 6.17 yd³ | 9.26 yd³ |
| 25 × 40 ft | 6.17 yd³ | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ |
| 30 × 50 ft | 9.26 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ | 27.8 yd³ |
Volume only. For weight, multiply by the density your supplier quotes for the soil as delivered.
How much topsoil to order
The default 25 × 20 ft area at 4 in needs 6.79 cubic yards with allowance. That rounds up to 7 yd³ in ½ cubic yard steps.
- Settling: loose soil settles after it is spread, watered, and walked on. Ask your supplier how much it typically settles, and raise the allowance to match. The calculator does not assume a settling factor.
- Moisture and weight: wet soil weighs more than dry soil. If you buy by the ton, use the density your supplier quotes for the product as delivered.
- Specifications: topsoil, garden blends, and fill dirt are different products. Ask for the supplier's description or test results if the use matters, such as for a new lawn or a raised bed.
- Delivery: plan where the pile will go and how you'll move it. See planning a delivery.
Tips for measuring and ordering topsoil
- For sloped or uneven areas, split the area into sections with different depths and add the results.
- For a raised bed, use the inside length, width, and fill height. See cubic yards explained for quick conversions.
- Bagged soil is labeled in cubic feet or quarts. Divide the cubic-feet result by the bag volume and round up.
- A tarp under the delivery pile makes cleanup easier on lawns and driveways.
Topsoil calculator FAQ
How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Add an allowance for settling and round up to your supplier's increment.
How much topsoil for a 25 x 20 ft area 4 inches deep?
166.7 cubic feet, or 6.17 cubic yards, before allowance. With a 10% allowance it is 6.79 cubic yards, which rounds up to 7 yd³ in half-yard steps.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
It varies with moisture, organic matter, and how the soil was screened. Ask your supplier for the density of the product as delivered and enter it in the calculator to convert volume to weight.
Should I order extra topsoil for settling?
Loose soil settles after it is placed and watered, so many people order more than the finished volume. How much depends on the soil and how it is placed. Ask your supplier, then set the allowance to cover it.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of topsoil cover?
Divide 324 by the depth in inches. At 2 inches a cubic yard covers 162 square feet, at 4 inches 81 square feet, and at 6 inches 54 square feet.
How many bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Divide 27 by the volume on the bag. For example, bags labeled 0.75 cu ft would take 36 bags per cubic yard. Use the size on the bags you're buying.
Can I use metric units?
Yes. Enter length and width in meters and depth in centimeters. Results always appear in cubic yards and cubic meters, and you can choose a cubic-meter order increment.
Related calculators and guides
Calculators
- Mulch Calculator — Mulch volume in cubic yards for any bed, plus a whole-bag count for the bag size you are buying.
- Gravel Calculator — Gravel, crushed rock, or landscape rock volume in cubic yards and meters, with an optional weight from your supplier's density.
- Concrete Calculator — Slab volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters, with ready-mix order size and bag counts for documented products.
Guides
- What Is a Cubic Yard? — What a cubic yard is, how to convert area × depth into yards, and how much ground one yard covers.
- How to Plan a Bulk Material Delivery — Rounding to supplier increments, questions to ask, and a checklist before bulk material arrives.
- How to Measure an Irregular Area — Split odd shapes into rectangles, triangles, circles, and trapezoids, then average width and depth.
- Bagged vs. Bulk Materials: Which Should You Buy? — How to compare bags and bulk delivery using bags per cubic yard and your own local prices.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9: Factors for units listed by kind of quantity — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact); 1 in = 2.54 cm (exact). Checked 2026-10-03.
- NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³; 1 US gal = 231 in³. Checked 2026-10-03.