How to calculate how much topsoil you need
Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the cubic foot (or pound) in bags. Work out the volume at the depth you want once the soil has settled, then add a settling allowance.
cubic yards to order = settled cubic feet ÷ 27 × 1.15
bags = cubic feet to order ÷ bag size (cu ft), rounded up
The 1.15 is our settling allowance for topsoil (1.2 for compost and raised bed mix). It is explained below.
Example: topsoil for a new lawn
A 30 × 40 ft lawn area with 4 inches of topsoil, the minimum Penn State gives for a new lawn:[1]
- Area: 30 × 40 = 1,200 sq ft
- Settled volume: 1,200 × 4 ÷ 12 = 400 cu ft = 14.81 cu yd
- With settling: 14.81 × 1.15 = 17.04 cu yd to order
- Weight: 17.04 × 0.80–1.30 = 13.6–22.1 tons
- Delivery: 2 tandem dump truck loads at 12 cu yd, or 3 single-axle loads at 6 cu yd
Example: filling a raised bed with bagged mix
A 4 × 8 ft raised bed filled 12 inches deep, the low end of the 12–24 inches the University of Maryland suggests for tomatoes, peppers and squash:[2]
- Volume: 4 × 8 × 12 ÷ 12 = 32 cu ft
- With settling: 32 × 1.2 = 38.4 cu ft
- With 5% extra: 38.4 × 1.05 = 40.32 cu ft
- Bags: 40.32 ÷ 1.5 = 26.88 → 27 bags of 1.5 cu ft, or 40.32 ÷ 2 = 20.16 → 21 bags of 2 cu ft
Choose Garden soil / raised bed mix above and the 12 in preset, with Extra for waste left at 5%, to get the same answer.
How deep to spread topsoil
| Use | Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New lawn | 4–6 in minimum, measured firmed or settled | Penn State[1] |
| Lawn root zone of sandy soil | at least 6 in after compaction | Oregon State (Pacific Northwest)[3] |
| Bagged topsoil for a new lawn, mixed with native soil | 1–2 in | Scotts[4] |
| New in-ground garden bed | 2–3 in, mixed into the top 6–8 in | Scotts, Miracle-Gro[4][5] |
| Raised bed on hard ground: greens, beans, cucumbers | at least 8 in | University of Maryland[2] |
| Raised bed: tomatoes, peppers, squash | 12–24 in | University of Maryland[2] |
| Imported topsoil over contaminated ground, with a barrier | at least 12 in | Rutgers[6] |
| Raised bed top-up each year | 2–3 in | Miracle-Gro[7] |
Compost worked into the soil
Penn State suggests a 1–2 inch layer of compost worked 4–6 inches into the soil before seeding a lawn.[1] Colorado State calls for at least 3–4 cubic yards of organic matter per 1,000 sq ft, worked into the top 6–8 inches, which is a layer about 1.0–1.3 inches thick.[8] The University of New Hampshire says not to exceed 4 cubic yards per 1,000 sq ft.[9]
Choose Compost above and enter the layer depth. The calculator adds its 20% settling allowance to compost; for a layer you are about to till in, you can skip that margin and buy the Finished volume shown in the result.
How much topsoil weighs
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Pounds per cu yd | Settling allowance | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 0.80–1.30 | 1,600–2,600 | × 1.15 | [10][11][12] |
| Compost | 0.40–0.80 | 800–1,600 | × 1.2 | [9][13] |
| Garden soil / raised bed mix | not published | — | × 1.2 | — |
The FHWA table gives loose topsoil at 1,618 lb per cubic yard, and undisturbed mineral soil weighs 1,686–2,360 lb when dry.[10][11] Delivered topsoil is usually moist and heavier: one supplier puts moist topsoil at 2,200–2,600 lb and saturated topsoil at up to 3,000 lb.[12] Oregon State puts screened compost at 50% moisture at about 1,000 lb, with a range of 800 to more than 1,600 lb.[13] We found no published weight for bagged garden soil or raised bed mix, so the calculator shows no weight for it.
Settling: our estimate, and why
No extension service or manufacturer we checked publishes a settling percentage for topsoil. The sources agree on the direction, not the amount:
- Penn State specifies lawn topsoil as a firmed or settled depth, so the loose layer must start thicker.[1]
- Rutgers says mineral soils hold their volume after the first settling, while organic mixes keep losing volume and need regular additions.[6]
- Oregon State warns that soil with more than 15% organic matter by volume settles considerably as it decomposes, leaving a bumpy lawn.[3]
- The University of Maryland recommends 25–50% organic matter by volume in raised bed soil, for example compost and topsoil mixed 1:2 or 1:1.[2] That is well above Oregon State’s 15%, which is why raised beds sink.
- Miracle-Gro says two 1.5 cu ft bags fill a 2 × 2 ft bed 6 inches deep. The bed holds 2 cu ft, so the maker allows 1.5 times the volume.[7]
Based on this, we use 1.15 for topsoil and 1.2 for compost and raised bed mix. These are our estimates, not measured values. If you roll the soil hard or your mix is mostly compost, order more.
Bags of topsoil and garden soil
| Bag | Sold as | Bags per cu yd | Covers at 2 in | Covers at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | Scotts Premium Topsoil; Miracle-Gro Garden Soil[4][5] | 36.0 | 4.5 sq ft | 2.25 sq ft |
| 1 cu ft | Miracle-Gro Garden Soil[5] | 27.0 | 6.0 sq ft | 3.00 sq ft |
| 1.5 cu ft | Miracle-Gro Garden Soil and Organic Raised Bed Soil[5][7] | 18.0 | 9.0 sq ft | 4.50 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft | Miracle-Gro Garden Soil[5] | 13.5 | 12.0 sq ft | 6.00 sq ft |
| 40 lb | Timberline Top Soil[14] | 40–65 | 2.5–4.1 sq ft | 1.2–2.0 sq ft |
Scotts labels its 0.75 cu ft bag as covering 4 sq ft at 2 inches; the geometry gives 4.5, so the label rounds down.[4] The calculator uses the exact figure and rounds the bag count up instead.
Some topsoil is sold by weight only. The Timberline 40 lb bag lists no volume, so we convert it with the topsoil weight range: 40 lb is 0.42–0.68 cu ft. The calculator counts 40 lb bags at the heavy end (2,600 lb per cubic yard), which gives the most bags, so you don’t come up short.
Hauling it yourself
A standard 8 ft pickup bed holds about 2 cubic yards filled level, but 2 yards of topsoil weigh 3,200–5,200 lb.[15] Ford lists 2,440 lb as the most a 2026 F-150 can carry, and only in the configuration built for maximum payload; payload also includes the people in the cab. Most pickups are rated lower.[16] With the calculator’s 2,000 lb of cargo per trip, that is 0.77 cu yd of topsoil or 1.25 cu yd of compost. For raised bed mix the calculator has no weight to check, so it counts pickup trips by volume only; load it like topsoil. Check the payload on your door-jamb label.
For larger jobs, a single-axle dump truck carries about 6 cu yd and a tandem 12 or 14 cu yd, by volume. Heavy wet soil can reach the legal weight limit first, so a load is often less; ask your supplier.[17]
Questions people ask
How do I calculate how much topsoil I will need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the settled depth in inches ÷ 12, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add about 15% for settling (our estimate). A 10 × 10 ft area 4 inches deep is 1.23 cu yd, so order about 1.42 cu yd, or 1.49 cu yd with the calculator’s 5% extra.
How much does a 40 lb bag of topsoil cover?
A 40 lb bag holds about 0.42–0.68 cubic feet, depending on how moist the soil is. Spread 2 inches deep that covers 2.5–4.1 sq ft; at 1 inch, 5.0–8.1 sq ft.
How much will 1 ton of topsoil cover?
At 1,600–2,600 lb per cubic yard, 1 ton is 0.77–1.25 cubic yards. That covers 125–203 sq ft at 2 inches or 62–101 sq ft at 4 inches, before settling.
How many 40 lb bags of soil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 1,600–2,600 lb, so it takes 40–65 bags of 40 lb. Wet soil is at the high end.
Related calculators
Sources
- Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment. 4–6 in of topsoil, measured after firming or settling. Checked 2026-09-26.
- University of Maryland Extension, Soil to Fill Raised Beds. At least 8 in for most crops; 12–24 in for tomatoes, peppers and squash. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Oregon State University Extension, Practical Lawn Establishment and Renovation (EC 1550). Checked 2026-09-26.
- ScottsMiracle-Gro, Scotts Premium Topsoil, 0.75 cu ft. Checked 2026-09-26.
- ScottsMiracle-Gro, Miracle-Gro Garden Soil All Purpose (0.75, 1, 1.5, 2 cu ft). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Rutgers NJAES, FS1328 Soil for Raised Beds. Checked 2026-09-26.
- ScottsMiracle-Gro, Miracle-Gro Organic Raised Bed Soil. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Colorado State University Extension, CMG GardenNotes: Soils, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments. Checked 2026-09-26.
- University of New Hampshire Extension, Purchasing Compost (tip sheet). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Wisconsin DOT (WHRP), tabulating FHWA 2022 and Church 1981, Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates (2023). Unit weights of base aggregate, and FHWA/Church loose, bank and compacted weights of topsoil, loam and clay; swell factors. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Soil health indicator sheet: soil compaction (bulk density). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Topsoil.com (supplier blog), Cubic Yard of Topsoil Weight: 1,500–3,000 lbs Explained. Dry, moist and saturated topsoil weights (secondary source). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Oregon State University Extension, Interpreting Compost Analyses (EM 9217). Screened compost at 50% moisture weighs about 1,000 lb per cubic yard. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Lowe’s (product listing), Timberline 40 lb all-purpose topsoil. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Landscape Recycling Center (Champaign–Urbana), Measurements. Pickup bed capacities. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Ford Motor Company, 2026 F-150 specifications. Maximum payload 2,440 lb in the best configuration. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Texas Department of Transportation, Seal Coat and Surface Treatment Manual: Haul Trucks, Size. Single-axle about 6 cu yd; tandem 12–14 cu yd. Checked 2026-09-26.