Topsoil Calculator
Enter your measurements
Results
- Material needed1.85 cubic yards
- Volume50 cubic feet
- Weight2.04 tons
- Bags (0.75 cu ft)67
Estimated cost
per cubic yard, delivered
Price per cubic yard delivered. The low end reflects rural markets or unscreened topsoil; the high end covers screened or compost-amended topsoil in metro areas. Delivery is usually a separate flat fee of $50 to $150 and is not included in the per-yard price.
Estimate only — prices vary by region, supplier, and season. Get a local quote before buying.
This topsoil calculator converts the dimensions of any lawn, garden bed, or raised planting area into cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and bag counts, the exact units you need to order bulk or haul bags yourself. Enter length, width, and desired depth and you get a full material estimate plus a delivered-cost range so you can budget before calling a supplier. Topsoil is sold two ways in the US: bulk by the cubic yard, where most suppliers set a one to three yard delivery minimum, and in bags, usually 0.75 cubic foot at home improvement stores. Bulk is far cheaper for anything larger than a small raised bed. The volume shown is the bare requirement, so add 10 to 15 percent for settling and uneven spreading when you place your order. Screened topsoil, sifted to remove rocks and debris, costs more than unscreened fill but is the right choice for seed beds and vegetable gardens, where root contact with clean soil matters.
How it’s calculated
Volume = Area × Depth. Cubic yards = volume ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × material density. Bags = volume ÷ bag size.
Worked example
For a 40 ft by 20 ft lawn area filled to a 3-inch depth, the calculator returns 7.41 cubic yards (200 cubic feet) of topsoil, weighing roughly 8.15 tons at typical moist density. At that volume, ordering in bulk from a local supplier makes far more sense than buying the 267 standard bags the calculator also shows: that many bags would cost several times more per yard and take many trips to haul.
Inputs
- Length
- 40 ft
- Width
- 20 ft
- Depth
- 3 in
Result
- Material needed
- 7.41 cubic yards
- Volume
- 200 cubic feet
- Weight
- 8.15 tons
- Bags (0.75 cu ft)
- 267
- Estimated material cost
- $148 – $407
Materials & pricing near you
Bulk topsoil is sold by the cubic yard nationwide, with delivered prices swinging widely by region and grade. Unscreened fill dirt is cheapest, sometimes free from excavation contractors if you haul it yourself. Screened topsoil, the standard for lawns and gardens, runs higher, and compost-amended blends sit at the top of the price range. Metro markets with longer truck hauls price near the high end, while rural areas close to soil yards run cheaper. Delivery is usually a flat fee, often $50 to $150 regardless of yardage, which rewards ordering a full load at once rather than topping up later. Prices tend to climb in spring when lawn and garden demand peaks. No permit is needed to place topsoil in standard residential yards.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should I add topsoil for a new lawn?
Aim for at least 4 inches of quality topsoil when establishing grass from seed or sod. Six inches is better over compacted or poor native soil, giving roots more room and improving drainage. For overseeding an existing lawn, a thin topdressing of 0.25 to 0.5 inches is plenty to work seed in without burying the existing grass.
How do I measure an irregular yard or garden bed?
Break the area into rectangles, calculate each section separately, and add the results. For curved beds, a practical shortcut is to measure the longest length and widest width, calculate as a rectangle, then multiply by about 0.8 to approximate the curve. This calculator handles one rectangle at a time, so run it once per section and sum the cubic yards for complex layouts.
How many cubic yards of topsoil fit in a pickup truck?
With topsoil, weight runs out before space does. A cubic yard of moist topsoil weighs roughly 2,200 pounds, so a half-ton pickup (F-150, Silverado 1500) is safely limited to about one yard, and closer to half a yard when the soil is wet. A bed that looks far from full can already be over the truck's payload rating, so go by weight, not how full it looks.
What is the difference between topsoil, fill dirt, and garden soil?
Topsoil is the upper layer of native soil, often screened and relatively rich in organic matter, used for lawns and planting areas. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic content, used to raise grade or fill low spots but not to grow plants. Bagged garden soil and potting mix are manufactured blends engineered for containers or raised beds; they work well there but are too costly and too light for large-area ground use.