How the Topsoil Calculator Works
Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the ton at some quarries and farm suppliers, so this calculator gives you both. It multiplies your area's length × width by the depth to get cubic feet, divides by 27 for cubic yards, and applies a typical screened-topsoil density of 1.35 tons per cubic yard for the weight estimate. Actual weight swings with moisture — freshly delivered soil after rain can weigh 10–15% more — so treat tons as a planning figure and confirm with your supplier if they sell by weight.
Worked Example: Topsoil for a New Lawn
Seeding a 30 × 20 ft lawn area with 4 inches of topsoil: the area is 600 sq ft, and at 4/12 ft deep that's 200 cubic feet = 7.41 cubic yards, weighing roughly 10 tons. That's two full dump-truck loads or one large delivery — and about 267 bags if you tried to do it bagged, which is why nobody bags a lawn job. At typical bulk pricing of $30–$50 per yard delivered, budget $220–$370.
How Deep Should Topsoil Be?
| Project | Recommended Depth |
|---|---|
| New lawn from seed or sod | 4–6 inches |
| Overseeding / leveling topdress | 0.25–0.5 inch |
| Raised garden beds | 6–12 inches (often blended with compost) |
| Filling low spots | Depth of the hollow + 10% for settling |
| Under new planting beds | 6–8 inches |
For raised beds, a common recipe is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% aeration material — run the bed through this calculator for total volume, then split by those ratios using the compost calculator for the compost share. Mulching on top afterwards? The mulch calculator finishes the job.