Topsoil Calculator
Whether you're filling raised beds, leveling a low spot, or top-dressing a lawn, the question is the same: how many yards of soil, and is it cheaper bagged or bulk? Enter your area and depth below. You'll get cubic yards, a bag count, and a cost estimate so you can order with confidence instead of eyeballing it.
How this is calculated
Length times width gives area, times depth in feet gives cubic feet, divided by 27 gives cubic yards, the unit bulk suppliers use. Bagged topsoil usually comes in 40-pound bags holding about three-quarters of a cubic foot, so the tool counts those too. Topsoil settles, so for filling beds you'll want a touch extra.
A worked example
Topping a 30 by 40 foot lawn with half an inch of soil: 1,200 square feet times 0.042 feet is about 50 cubic feet, just under 2 cubic yards. Filling four 4 by 8 raised beds a foot deep is a very different number, 128 cubic feet, almost 5 yards, which is exactly why guessing doesn't work here.
Common questions
Measure the area, choose a depth (a half inch for top-dressing a lawn, several inches to a foot for beds), and the calculator returns yards and bags. As a guide, one cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
Around 36 of the standard 40-pound, 0.75-cubic-foot bags. Past a yard or so, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
Yes, especially fresh screened topsoil in beds. Order around 10% extra for fill jobs so you're not topping off later.
Aim for 4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil for new grass to root well. Set that depth above and the tool sizes the order.
Estimates for planning. Verify against your supplier's units and your local building codes before ordering or building. For anything structural, follow your engineer or local code.