Lawns · Garden Beds · Grading
Topsoil Calculator: Cubic Yards, Bags & Cost
Enter your lawn or garden bed dimensions and how deep you need to fill. This tool converts that into cubic yards, bag count, weight, and a cost estimate — with a 10% waste factor built in.
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How the math works
Volume comes from multiplying area by depth, then converting to cubic yards — the unit topsoil is bought and delivered in.
volume (cu ft) = area × (depth ÷ 12) × 1.10
cubic yards = volume (cu ft) ÷ 27
bags = volume (cu ft) ÷ 0.75
Bag count assumes standard 40 lb bags, which hold about 0.75 cubic feet each. Weight is estimated at roughly 1 ton per cubic yard — a standard approximation, though wet soil can weigh noticeably more.
Recommended depth by project
| Project | Recommended depth |
|---|---|
| New lawn (seed or sod) | 4–6 in |
| Topdressing existing lawn | 1–2 in |
| Raised garden bed | 8–12 in |
| Grading / leveling low spots | varies |
Common mistakes
The most common miscalculation is confusing cubic feet with cubic yards when ordering bulk — suppliers sell by the yard, and off-by-27 errors are easy to make doing this math by hand. The other frequent miss: not accounting for delivery minimums. Many bulk suppliers won't deliver less than 2-3 cubic yards, so a small project might actually be cheaper and easier with bagged topsoil despite the higher per-yard price.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
4 to 6 inches is standard for a new lawn from seed or sod. For topdressing an existing lawn, 1 to 2 inches is usually enough.
Is bulk or bagged topsoil cheaper?
Bulk is almost always cheaper once you need more than about 1.5 to 2 cubic yards. Below that, bagged topsoil is often more practical since most bulk suppliers have delivery minimums.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 ton (about 2,000 lbs), though wet soil can weigh more. This matters for figuring out whether your vehicle can haul it yourself versus needing delivery.