Topsoil & Dirt Calculator - Yards, Tons & Bags

How to use this calculator

Pick the shape. Lawns, beds and pads are usually rectangles. Use Circle for round beds or the area around a tree.
Enter the size in feet. For irregular areas, split them into rectangles, calculate each one and add the results.
Enter the depth in inches. This is the depth you want to add, after the soil has settled. The depth table below helps if you are unsure.
Choose the material. Volume is the same for every material, but weight is not. A yard of compost typically weighs about half as much as a yard of moist topsoil.
Pick a bag size if you plan to buy bagged soil. Adjust the settling allowance and prices under Settling & prices. The default prices are only placeholders, and bulk soil prices vary a lot by region, so check with a local landscape supplier.

The formula

Soil is sold by volume, usually in cubic yards:

Volume (cu ft) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12

Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27

For a round area, the area is π × radius², and the radius is half the diameter. Loose soil packs down after watering, so you need a little more than the finished volume. The calculator adds 10% for settling by default. That is a rule of thumb, not a published standard, so change it if your supplier or your own experience suggests otherwise.

Bags are the cubic feet divided by the bag size, rounded up. Bulk is rounded up to the next half yard, a common way suppliers sell it (ask yours). Tons are the ordered bulk yards times a weight per yard. Soil weight depends heavily on moisture and clay content, so you get a range:

Material	Tons per cubic yard (low - typical - high)	Where the numbers come from
Topsoil, fill dirt	0.8 - 1.05 - 1.49	Low: New Mexico EMNRD’s 0.8 t/yd³ factor for topsoil and fill dirt (from BLM Handbook H-3890-1). Typical: moist, loose earth at 78 lb/ft³ = 2,106 lb/yd³, from the U.S. EPA’s 2006 table (values credited to FEECO). Los Angeles County lists the same 2,106 lb for wet soil. High: wet earth containing clay at up to 110 lb/ft³ = 2,970 lb/yd³, from the same EPA table
Compost	0.4 - 0.5 - 0.8	Oregon State Extension (EM 9217): 800 to more than 1,600 lb/yd³, and about 1,000 lb/yd³ for screened compost at 50% moisture
Garden soil / compost blend	0.6 - 0.78 - 1.14	Our estimate, not a published figure: the average of the two rows above, i.e. a 50/50 mix by volume

None of these sources gives separate weights for delivered topsoil and fill dirt, so both use the same range. You may also see lab “bulk density” figures, such as 1.4 g/cm³ in Cornell’s soil health fact sheet. Those are the dry weight of soil in place, not the weight of a moist, loose load. Very wet material can go past the high end. If your supplier sells by the ton, or you plan to haul it yourself, use their weight for the load. It is the only number that reflects their material and how wet it is.

Worked example: a 20 × 15 ft new lawn

You want to add 4 inches of topsoil before seeding a 20 × 15 ft area:

Volume: 20 × 15 × 4 ÷ 12 = 100 cubic feet
With 10% for settling: 100 × 1.10 = 110 cubic feet
In yards: 110 ÷ 27 = 4.07 cubic yards, so order 4.5 yd³ from a supplier that sells in half yards
Weight of the 4.5 yd³ load: 4.5 × 0.8-1.49 = about 3.6-6.7 tons, roughly 4.7 tons at the typical 1.05 t/yd³
In 1 cu ft bags: 110 bags

At $40 per yard plus a $75 delivery fee, the 4.5 yd³ costs $255 delivered. The same soil in 110 bags at $4.50 costs $495, and you would have to haul and open 110 bags.

How deep should the soil be?

Volumes are per 1,000 sq ft, before any settling allowance. One inch over 1,000 sq ft is 3.09 yd³.

Project	Recommended depth	yd³ per 1,000 sq ft
Top dressing an existing lawn	No more than ½ in per application (Clemson)	up to 1.5
Leveling low spots in a lawn	Fill in layers of ½ in or less, repeated (Clemson)	1.5 per ½-in layer
New lawn from seed or sod	A total of 4-6 in of topsoil after firming; 6 in or more for deeper roots (NMSU)	12.3-18.5 for 4-6 in added
Base layer under a raised bed	About 2 in of mix worked into the loosened ground (K-State)	6.2
Raised bed	At least 6-8 in deep (K-State)	18.5-24.7 for 6-8 in

Top dressing a lawn: keep it light. Clemson Extension says to apply no more than ½ inch at a time, because thicker layers can stunt or shade the grass. Clemson also lists top dressing as the way to level low spots, so fill deeper dips over several applications.

New lawn: New Mexico State University Extension calls 4 inches the absolute minimum soil depth and recommends a total of 4-6 inches of topsoil after firming. That is the total, so subtract any good soil you already have before you enter the depth to add. Recommendations vary by region, and your state’s extension service may suggest more.

Raised beds: K-State Research and Extension recommends a bed at least 6-8 inches deep, which is where most vegetable feeder roots grow. Loosen the ground underneath 6-8 inches deep and blend about 2 inches of the mix into it, so you don’t end up with two separate soil layers. That gives you 10-12 inches of rich soil. The bag count adds up fast: a 4 × 8 ft bed filled 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet, or 22 bags of 1.5 cu ft. Several beds that size can justify a bulk delivery of garden soil blend.

Bags or bulk?

Bagged soil has no delivery fee, and you buy exactly the number of bags you need. Bulk soil costs less per yard, but you pay for delivery and usually buy in half-yard steps. The calculator compares both at your prices, rounded the way you would order (whole bags, half yards). It also shows the amount above which bulk is always cheaper, about 1.11 yd³ at the default prices. Below that, the cheaper option can flip back and forth as the bag count and half-yard steps change.

Some suppliers set a minimum delivery or charge a flat fee that makes small loads expensive, so ask before you order.

Hauling it yourself? One yard of moist, loose earth is about 2,100 lb, and wet, clay-rich soil can approach 3,000 lb or more. Ask the supplier what the load weighs and compare it with your vehicle’s rated payload. Federal rules (FMVSS 110) require a tire and loading information placard on passenger cars and on trucks, SUVs and vans up to 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight rating. It states the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo, and it is normally on the driver’s side door pillar (B-pillar) or, on some vehicles, a door edge.

Tips

Clear the site first. NMSU Extension advises removing debris, buried stumps and stones larger than 2-3 inches, and controlling weeds before you add soil.
Loosen the ground underneath. NMSU recommends tilling at least 6 inches deep so the new topsoil bonds with the subsoil. That helps roots grow down and water move through.
Grade away from the house. When you raise a grade, slope it away from building foundations and fill low-lying areas (NMSU).
Settle it, then measure. NMSU suggests settling the area with about ½ to 1 inch of irrigation water before fine grading. Check the depth afterward and top it up if it has settled more than expected.
Building a patio next to the new lawn? Size the pad with our concrete slab calculator before you order soil, so the finished grades line up.

Frequently asked questions

How much area does a cubic yard of topsoil cover?

One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches and 54 sq ft at 6 inches. That is 27 cubic feet spread out. The calculator adds a settling allowance on top, 10% by default, which is a rule of thumb you can change.

How many tons is a yard of topsoil or dirt?

A cubic yard of topsoil or fill dirt weighs roughly 0.8 to 1.5 tons, depending mostly on how wet it is and how much clay it holds. New Mexico EMNRD (from a BLM handbook) uses 0.8 tons (1,600 lb) per cubic yard. The U.S. EPA's 2006 conversion table, citing FEECO, gives about 2,100 lb for moist, loose earth and up to about 2,970 lb (nearly 1.5 tons) for wet earth containing clay. Very wet loads can weigh even more. Compost is lighter: Oregon State Extension puts it at about 1,000 lb per yard at 50% moisture, with a range of 800 to more than 1,600 lb. If you are hauling or buying by the ton, ask the supplier what their load weighs.

How many bags of soil make a cubic yard?

A cubic yard takes 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 14 bags of 2 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so the 2 cu ft count is 13.5, rounded up. Check the volume printed on the bag you buy.

Is it cheaper to buy topsoil in bags or in bulk?

Bags often win for small jobs because there is no delivery fee, and bulk can become cheaper on bigger ones. Bulk only pulls ahead if its price per cubic yard is lower than the bags' price per yard. Then the delivery fee gets spread over enough yards. At the calculator's default prices (1 cu ft bags at $4.50, bulk at $40 per yard plus $75 delivery, bulk rounded up to half yards), bulk is cheaper for any amount over about 1.11 cubic yards (30 cubic feet). Below that it depends on how the bag count and half-yard steps fall. Enter your local prices to find your own break-even.

What is the difference between topsoil, fill dirt and garden soil?

Fill dirt is usually subsoil with little organic matter, used to fill holes and raise grades. Topsoil is the darker upper layer with more organic matter, used under lawns and gardens. Garden or raised-bed soil is typically topsoil blended with organic matter. K-State Extension describes raised-bed mixes of good topsoil and organic matter, often in similar portions.

How much extra soil should I order for settling?

Start with about 10% extra, a rule of thumb you can change, because there is no published standard percentage. A practical check from New Mexico State University Extension: settle new soil with about ½ to 1 inch of irrigation before final grading, then measure the depth and top up if needed.

Sources

Last reviewed Oct 8, 2026. See how we calculate. Results are planning estimates - confirm with your supplier and local code.