Topsoil Calculator

Estimate how much topsoil you need for lawns, garden beds, raised beds, planting areas, grading, and landscaping projects. Calculate cubic feet, cubic yards, bag count, bagged topsoil cost, bulk topsoil cost, and topsoil coverage.

Calculate Topsoil

Topsoil Volume = Area × Topsoil Depth. Convert topsoil depth from inches to feet before calculating volume.
Your result will appear here.

How the topsoil calculator works

Rectangular mode:
The calculator multiplies length, width, and topsoil depth to estimate total topsoil volume.

Round mode:
The calculator uses diameter to calculate circular area, then multiplies by topsoil depth.

Known area mode:
The calculator uses your entered square footage and topsoil depth to estimate how much topsoil is needed.

Lawn repair mode:
The calculator estimates topsoil for leveling, patching, or spreading a thin layer across a lawn area.

Why use a topsoil calculator?

A topsoil calculator helps estimate how much topsoil to buy before starting a lawn, garden, raised bed, grading, or landscaping project.

It can help compare bagged topsoil and bulk topsoil, estimate delivery cost, avoid underbuying, and plan the right amount of soil for your project area.

What your result means

Your result shows estimated topsoil volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, number of bags needed, estimated bagged topsoil cost, estimated bulk topsoil cost, total project area, topsoil depth, extra material allowance, and settling or compaction estimate.

Topsoil formulas

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?

Multiply the area by the topsoil depth in feet. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. Then divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards.

How deep should topsoil be for a lawn?

For light lawn repair, 1 inch or less may be enough. For new lawn areas, 4 to 6 inches of topsoil is commonly used depending on existing soil quality.

How many cubic feet are in one cubic yard of topsoil?

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Bulk topsoil is usually sold by cubic yard, while bagged topsoil is usually sold by cubic foot.

Should I add extra topsoil for settling?

Yes. Topsoil can settle after watering, spreading, and compaction. Adding extra material helps account for low spots, uneven ground, and settling.

Is this topsoil calculator exact?

No. This is an estimate. Actual topsoil needs can vary based on slope, soil compaction, moisture, grading, spreading thickness, and how level the area is.