Yard & Garden calculator

Topsoil CalculatorCubic Yards & Bags

Calculate topsoil in cubic yards and 1-cu-ft bags from project area and depth. Add a practical allowance for grading, settling and uneven ground.

Updated August 20, 2026

✓Instant estimateNo sign-up required

✓Clear formulaSee how the result is built

✓Practical unitsBoxes, bags, sheets or volume

✓Editable wasteAdjust for your project

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Project details

Enter your measurements and material details.

Planning estimate only. Actual quantities vary with cuts, layout, site conditions and product specifications.

💡Tip:

Bulk soil is usually more practical than bags once the project reaches several cubic yards.

How the Topsoil Calculator works

The topsoil calculator estimates the loose volume needed to raise or cover an area by a chosen depth. It reports cubic yards for bulk orders and an approximate one-cubic-foot bag count for smaller jobs. Settlement, moisture and blending with existing soil can change the final depth after installation.

Formula

Cubic yards = length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27, then adjusted by the selected allowance.

Measure before you buy

Measure the area where soil will actually be spread. For lawn repair, avoid counting patios, sidewalks or planting beds that will not receive soil. On sloped or uneven ground, use an average depth or split the project into sections with different depths.

Bulk soil is usually more practical than bags once the project reaches several cubic yards.
Expect some settlement, especially with loose screened mixes.
For raised beds, calculate the interior dimensions of the bed rather than the outside frame dimensions.

Common questions

How many cubic feet are in one cubic yard of soil?

There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard.

How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?

Multiply lawn area by the depth you plan to add. This calculator performs that conversion to cubic yards.

Does topsoil settle?

Yes. Loose soil can settle after watering and traffic, so exact finished depth may change.

Can I use this for a raised bed?

Yes. Enter the interior length, width and fill depth.

Should I order extra?

A modest allowance can cover settlement, uneven grade and measurement error.

Worked example: Topsoil Calculator

Using the example inputs shown in the calculator — Area length (ft) = 30, Area width (ft) = 12, Added depth (in) = 4, Extra allowance (%) = 8 — the result is 4.8 cubic yards. This demonstrates the formula with a complete set of numbers rather than a hidden assumption.

The result breakdown also shows Coverage area: 360 sq ft; 1-cu-ft bags: 130. Replace the example values with field measurements and the exact product coverage, yield or package size you plan to buy.

For this topsoil calculator, the inputs with the greatest practical effect are area length, area width and added depth. Recalculate when any of those change; do not reuse a result from a different room, run, layer depth or product specification.