Topsoil Calculator
Estimate topsoil volume in cubic yards, feet and metres with weight and cost for lawns, gardens and raised beds. Includes a settling and waste overage.
6 in for a lawn, 12 in for a vegetable bed.
Soil settles after watering — 10–20% extra is typical.
Topsoil required
0.93 m³
33 ft³ · 1.22 yd³
Weight
1.4 tonnes
1,402 kg
Estimated cost
$140
Weight uses the selected soil density. The settling & waste overage is already included in the volume, weight and cost above.
Last updated: January 2026
How this calculator is verified
Checked by True Calculator automated test suite on
- Formula verified against a published worked example in the automated test suite
- Edge cases (zero, negative, boundary and unit-mismatch inputs) covered by unit tests
The full verification method is on our how we verify page. Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check it.
When to Use This Calculator
Buying garden soil is confusing because rates appear per tonne, per cubic yard, per cubic foot, per bag and per truckload. This calculator turns a simple tape-measure job — length, width and depth of the bed or lawn — into the three numbers every supplier quote uses: cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres, plus the weight in tonnes. Home gardeners use it to size raised beds and lawns, landscapers use it to quote levelling work, and nurseries use it to price deliveries. The settling and waste overage covers the compaction that happens after watering. Whatever the seller's unit, the volume and weight here stay constant, so the best rate wins on a like-for-like comparison.
How to Use This Calculator
- Step 1: Enter the garden or bed length and width in feet.
- Step 2: Enter the soil depth in inches — 6 in for lawns, 10–12 in for beds.
- Step 3: Choose the soil type and set the settling & waste overage — 10–20% is typical.
- Step 4: Optionally add the price per tonne and read the volume in cubic yards, feet and metres, the weight in tonnes, and the cost.
Worked Example
A gardener fills a 10 ft × 6 ft raised bed with 6 inches of topsoil. The volume is 10 × 6 × 0.5 = 30 cubic feet, or 0.85 m³ and 1.11 cubic yards. With a 10% settling and waste overage the order becomes 0.93 m³. Dry topsoil at 1,500 kg/m³ weighs about 1.40 tonnes after the overage, so at $100 per tonne the soil costs about $140. The calculator shows the volume in cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres so quotes arriving in any unit can be compared directly.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- •Tip 1: Beds settle after watering — the settling & waste overage (10–20%) keeps the bed level after the first few rains.
- •Tip 2: Check whether the supplier's price includes delivery; delivery charges can exceed the soil value on small orders.
- •Tip 3: Moist soil weighs about 6% more than dry, so ask which moisture state the quote assumes.
- ✗Mistake 1: Filling the bed to the brim — soil settles, so keep the overage on or plan to refill later.
- ✗Mistake 2: Comparing a per-tonne quote with a per-cubic-yard quote directly; convert both to the same unit first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?
Measure the garden length and width in feet and the soil depth in inches. 10 ft × 6 ft at 6 inches deep is about 30 cubic feet — roughly 0.85 m³ or 1.27 tonnes.
What depth of topsoil is right for plants?
6 inches supports a lawn, while vegetable beds and shrubs prefer 10–12 inches so roots can spread. Deeper fill means proportionally more soil by volume.
Why does topsoil weight vary?
Dry soil is about 1,500 kg/m³ and moist soil about 1,600 kg/m³ because of the water held in it. The calculator lets you pick either depending on what you are buying.
How is topsoil sold in India?
Garden soil is often sold per tonne or per cubic foot, sometimes by the lorry load. Check with the nursery — the calculator shows volume, weight and cost side by side.
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