Soil Calculator
Free soil calculator. Calculate cubic yards, bags, and weight of soil for any bed.
Soil Calculator
Cubic yards, bags, and weight for any bed
How Much Soil Do I Need
The soil you need depends on the bed area and the depth you want to fill. The formula is Length x Width x Depth in inches divided by 324 for cubic yards. A 10 x 4 ft bed at 6 inches deep needs 0.74 cubic yards, which is about 20 bags of 1 cubic foot. To work in cubic feet first, multiply the area by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 for yards. The calculator returns cubic yards, cubic feet, bag count, and weight together. Soil weighs roughly 1,800 to 2,200 pounds per cubic yard, so plan hauling around that figure for bulk orders.
Bed Sizes Table
The table shows soil for common bed sizes at typical depths. Raised beds use the deeper figures, while top-up jobs use the shallow ones. One cubic yard fills a 4 x 8 ft raised bed to about 10 inches. Bagged soil works for small beds, but past one cubic yard, bulk delivery is far cheaper. Most 40 pound bags hold 0.5 to 0.75 cubic feet, so always check the printed volume before counting bags.
| Bed Size | Yd³ at 6" | Yd³ at 12" | 1 cu ft Bags (6") |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 ft | 0.30 yd³ | 0.59 yd³ | 8 bags |
| 4 x 8 ft | 0.59 yd³ | 1.19 yd³ | 16 bags |
| 10 x 4 ft | 0.74 yd³ | 1.48 yd³ | 20 bags |
| 10 x 10 ft | 1.85 yd³ | 3.70 yd³ | 50 bags |
Soil vs Mulch Layering
Soil and mulch work as two layers in a planting bed. Soil fills the bed to the planting depth and feeds the roots. Mulch caps the surface at 2 to 3 inches to hold moisture and block weeds. Calculate them separately because they sit at different depths and weigh different amounts. A 10 x 4 ft bed needs soil to its full 12 inch depth, then 2 inches of mulch on top. Soil weighs about 2,000 pounds per cubic yard, far more than the 600 pounds of hardwood mulch, so the soil layer drives the delivery weight.
How deep should garden soil be?
Garden soil depth depends on what you grow. Refreshing an existing bed needs 3 to 6 inches of new soil. A brand-new garden needs 4 to 6 inches of topsoil worked in. Raised beds need 6 to 12 inches. Deep-rooted vegetables like carrots and tomatoes need 12 to 18 inches for full root development. Match the depth to the deepest crop you plan to grow.
How much does a yard of soil weigh?
A cubic yard of topsoil weighs 1,800 to 2,200 pounds, or about one ton, when dry. Wet soil weighs more because water adds mass. A half-ton pickup truck safely carries about one cubic yard of soil. For larger orders, a single-axle dump truck holds 5 to 6 tons and a tandem-axle truck holds 10 to 14 tons.
Bagged vs Bulk Soil
The choice between bagged and bulk soil comes down to project size. Bagged soil is convenient, stores dry, and has no delivery minimum, which suits small beds and containers. Bulk soil is far cheaper per cubic yard but needs a truck or delivery and a place to dump the pile. The break-even point is about one cubic yard, or roughly 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. Below that, bags win on convenience. Above it, bulk wins on cost.
Quality also differs. Bulk soil from a landscape supplier is often screened topsoil or a custom blend you can inspect before buying. Bagged soil is consistent and labeled but costs more per volume. For a raised bed or large garden, order bulk and have it dumped near the beds. For a few pots or a small refresh, buy bags. Always confirm the cubic-foot volume on the bag, since 40 pound bags range from 0.5 to 0.75 cubic feet.
FAQ
Multiply length by width by depth in inches and divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 10 x 4 ft bed at 6 inches deep needs 0.74 cubic yards or about 20 bags of 1 cubic foot.
A cubic yard holds 27 bags of 1 cubic foot or 36 bags of 0.75 cubic foot. Most 40 pound bags measure 0.5 to 0.75 cubic feet, so confirm the volume on the bag.
Raised beds need 6 to 12 inches. New gardens need 4 to 6 inches of topsoil. Most vegetables need 12 to 18 inches. Refreshing a bed needs 3 to 6 inches.
Divide cubic feet by 27, since one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Fifty cubic feet of soil is 1.85 cubic yards. Use bags for small projects and bulk for large ones.
Yes. Add 10 percent for settling. Fresh soil compacts in the first season after watering, so the buffer keeps the bed from sinking below the rim.
A cubic yard of topsoil weighs 1,800 to 2,200 pounds dry, about one ton. A half-ton pickup carries about one cubic yard safely.
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