Topsoil Calculator

By the YardCalc team. Updated November 10, 2026.

Enter the area and depth and choose the soil. You get cubic yards, tons, bags and cost per yard, with extra for settling.

For curved or odd shapes, add up the parts and enter the total. It replaces length and width.
2.72
Cubic yards
2.7
Tons
98
Bags (0.75 cu ft)
$95
Est. cost

How much topsoil do I need?

Cubic yards = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27

LengthWidthDepth
Measure length and width in feet and depth in inches. The calculator converts everything to cubic yards.

A 20 × 10 ft bed 4 inches deep needs 2.47 cubic yards, or 2.72 with 10% extra for settling. Topsoil is usually priced by the cubic yard, so that is the number to give the supplier.

Depth by project

ProjectDepth
New lawn from seed or sod4 to 6 in
Top dressing a lawn0.25 to 0.5 in
Raised vegetable bed10 to 12 in
Shrub bed12 to 18 in
Leveling low spotsTo grade, in layers of 2 in or less
Expect settling. Loose soil settles 15 to 25% over its first season. Order the extra or plan a spring top-up.

Finishing a bed? Cover it with mulch from the mulch calculator.

How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. Past about a yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper than bags.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a yard of topsoil cover?

About 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches.

How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?

About 1 ton when moist; more when wet.

Is fill dirt the same as topsoil?

No. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter, used to raise grade. Use topsoil for the top 4 to 6 inches where plants grow.

Reference charts

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Last updated November 10, 2026. Results are estimates for planning. See how we build and check our tools in our editorial policy. Found an error? Tell us.