Topsoil Calculator
Calculate topsoil or fill dirt in cubic yards, tons and bags for lawns, raised beds, leveling and grading — with typical depth guidance for each job.
1–2″ leveling · 4–6″ new lawn · 10″+ beds
Typical screened topsoil: $20–$50 per yard plus delivery
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Enter a price per yard to estimate cost.
You might also need:Mulch Calculator·Cubic Yard Calculator
How to calculate topsoil
A 20 × 15 ft area topped with 4 inches of soil needs 100 cubic feet — 3.7 cubic yards. Order 4 yards: soil settles by 10–20% after spreading and watering, so a little extra saves a second delivery fee.
How much soil for common projects
| Project | Recommended depth | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling low spots | 1–2″ | 0.3–0.6 yd³ |
| Overseeding prep | 0.5–1″ | 0.15–0.3 yd³ |
| New lawn (seed or sod) | 4–6″ | 1.2–1.9 yd³ |
| Flower beds | 6–8″ | 1.9–2.5 yd³ |
| Raised vegetable beds | 10–12″ | 3.1–3.7 yd³ |
Topsoil vs fill dirt: which to order
Fill dirt is subsoil — cheap, dense and stable. Use it to raise grades, fill holes and build up ground that will be compacted or built on. Topsoilis the living top layer with organic matter: use it for anything you want to grow. For big grade changes, do both: fill dirt to within 6 inches of finished height, topsoil on top. Mulching the finished bed? Head to the mulch calculator next.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?+
Screened topsoil weighs roughly 2,000–2,200 lb (about 1 to 1.1 tons) per cubic yard when dry, and up to 3,000 lb when saturated. Fill dirt is denser at around 2,200–2,400 lb per yard.
How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?+
Spread 4–6 inches of quality topsoil before seeding or laying sod. For a 1,000 sq ft lawn at 4 inches that is about 12.5 cubic yards. If you only need to level low spots, 1–2 inches raked in is enough.
How many bags of topsoil equal a cubic yard?+
Bagged topsoil usually comes in 0.75 or 1 cubic-foot bags. One cubic yard (27 cubic feet) equals 27 one-cubic-foot bags, or 36 bags at the common 0.75 cu ft size. Beyond a handful of bags, bulk delivery is much cheaper per yard.
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?+
Topsoil is screened natural soil for filling, grading and lawns. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and organic matter, sold at a premium for planting beds. For raised beds, a 50/50 topsoil-compost mix is a cost-effective alternative.
How deep should soil be for raised beds?+
Most vegetables need 10–12 inches of soil depth. A standard 4 × 8 ft raised bed filled 10 inches deep takes just under 1 cubic yard of soil mix.