OpenTools

Construction & Home Improvement

Topsoil Calculator

Estimate cubic yards of topsoil, the number of bags to buy, and a bulk cost range from your bed area and depth.

Topsoil estimate

Enter the bed size and target depth. The tool finds cubic yards, bag count, and a bulk cost range.

Bags and bulk price

Bag count uses the selected bag size. Bulk cost is shown per cubic yard ordered.

Enter your supplier's price to turn the range into a single estimate. Leave blank for the $10–$55/cu yd US range.

How this estimate works

The calculator finds installed volume with volume = length × width × depth ÷ 27 (cubic yards), where depth is in inches (the ÷324 factor already converts inches to feet and cubic feet to cubic yards).

Bag count is bags = ⌈ order volume ÷ bag volume ⌉, rounded up from the full-precision order volume.

Cost is cost = order cubic yards × $/cubic yard (bulk). Bulk topsoil is sold by the cubic yard you order, so the cost is driven by the order volume (including the allowance), not by the installed volume alone.

For example, a 10 ft × 10 ft bed at 4 inches deep is about 1.36 cubic yards. With a 10% allowance and 1.5 cu ft bags, that is about 25 bags and roughly a $14–$75 bulk range.

Before you order

Confirm the supplier's actual bag size, cubic-yard price, screening grade, and delivery terms before purchasing. Loose topsoil settles and compacts, so the allowance is a buffer, not a compaction prediction.

Bulk delivery usually has a minimum order and a delivery fee that this estimate does not include. Bagged topsoil costs more per volume but avoids minimums.

Topsoil calculator FAQ

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard of topsoil?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. That is about 18 bags at 1.5 cubic feet each, or about 14 bags at 2.0 cubic feet each.
How deep should I spread topsoil?
It depends on the job. Lawn topdressing is often 2 to 6 inches, while new garden beds or vegetable plots usually need 8 to 12 inches or more. The calculator converts the depth you enter in inches to feet automatically.
Should I buy bagged or bulk topsoil?
Bulk topsoil is much cheaper per cubic yard for anything over about one cubic yard. Bagged topsoil (1.5 to 2 cubic feet per bag) is convenient for small repairs but costs meaningfully more per yard.
Is the cost estimate a quote?
No. It is a planning range built from US bulk dollars-per-cubic-yard figures for 2026. Delivery, screening grade, quality, and region all move the real number, so confirm the actual price with your supplier.

Method & sources

Volume, bag count, and cost are computed at full precision and rounded only for display. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, and one cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at a 1-inch depth.

Important limits

  • Estimates one rectangular bed from length, width, and depth. It does not model irregular shapes, slopes, multiple beds, or compaction.
  • Does not include delivery fees, minimum order charges, taxes, soil testing, amendments, or installation labor.
  • Cost is a planning range from US bulk $/cubic-yard figures for 2026, not a supplier quote. Bagged pricing differs and is not computed here.

Reviewed references