Topsoil calculator
Enter the area and the depth of soil you want to add. Use the extra-for-settling field for loose fill that will compact over the first season.
Materials takeoff
Topsoil Calculator · https://estimahome.com/topsoil-calculator/
Bed or area length: 20 ftBed or area width: 10 ftDepth: 4 in
- Area
- 200 sq ft
- Volume
- 66.7 cu ft · 2.47 cu yd
- Bags
- 89 × 0.75 cu ft
- Weight
- 2.72 tons
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topsoil, 0.75 cu ft bags | 89 | bag | $3.50 | $311.50 |
- Subtotal
- $311.50
- Likely range
- $264.77 – $358.23
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Topsoil, bulk | 2.5 | cu yd | $40.00 | $100.00 |
| 3 | Delivery | 1 | trip | $75.00 | $75.00 |
- Subtotal
- $175.00
- Likely range
- $148.75 – $201.25
- Bulk usually wins on price above two or three cubic yards; bags are easier for small beds and tight access.
- Measure irregular beds as several rectangles, or use average length × average width.
Buy these materials
Bags are listed below. Bulk is ordered from a local landscape yard.
- 89 0.75 cu ft bags of topsoilAmazon search for 0.75 cu ft bags of topsoil (opens in new tab)
Links open a store search for each item. Check sizes and grades against your plan.
Quick reference
- A cubic yard of topsoil covers 81 sq ft at 4 in deep, or 324 sq ft at 1 in.
- One cubic yard equals 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft topsoil.
- Topsoil (cu yd) = length × width × depth in inches ÷ 324.
How it's calculated
⌈x⌉ means round up to the next whole unit; ⌊x⌋ means round down. Every quantity you buy is rounded up.
Volume (cu ft) = length × width × depth ÷ 12 × (1 + extra ÷ 100)Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27Bags = ⌈ cubic feet ÷ bag size ⌉Bulk order = cubic yards rounded up to the sale incrementWeight (tons) = cubic yards × tons per cubic yardBag cost = bags × bag price; bulk cost = bulk yards × price per yard + delivery; range = cost × (1 ± range % ÷ 100)
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft area at 4 in deep is 66.67 cu ft, or 2.47 cu yd. In 0.75 cu ft bags that is 89 bags ($311.50). Bulk, rounded to 2.5 cu yd, is $175.00 with delivery. At 1.1 tons per yard the load weighs about 2.72 tons.
Questions
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?
For leveling or top-dressing, ¼ to ½ in at a time. For a new lawn on poor ground, 4 to 6 in.
How much topsoil for a raised bed?
Raised beds are usually filled with a soil and compost blend. Enter the bed's length, width and height in inches as the depth, and add about 10% for settling.
Bagged or bulk topsoil?
Bags make sense for a few small beds. A full yard is 36 bags at 0.75 cu ft, so bulk is usually cheaper past that point.
Cite: “Topsoil Calculator.” EstimaHome, https://estimahome.com/topsoil-calculator/. Updated 2026-10-20. Formulas in machine-readable form: /api/calculators.json.