How much topsoil do I need?
Cubic yards = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27
A 20 × 10 ft bed 4 inches deep needs 2.47 cubic yards, or 2.72 with 10% extra for settling. Topsoil is usually priced by the cubic yard, so that is the number to give the supplier.
Depth by project
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| New lawn from seed or sod | 4 to 6 in |
| Top dressing a lawn | 0.25 to 0.5 in |
| Raised vegetable bed | 10 to 12 in |
| Shrub bed | 12 to 18 in |
| Leveling low spots | To grade, in layers of 2 in or less |
Finishing a bed? Cover it with mulch from the mulch calculator.
Typical depths and coverage for topsoil
How deep to lay topsoil depends on the job, so treat these depths as common starting points and defer to your plans or the product label. Coverage is how much ground one cubic yard of topsoil, or one ton, spreads at that depth.
| Project | Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin top dressing on a lawn | 0.5 in | 648 sq ft | 648 sq ft |
| Garden bed top up | 3 in | 108 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| Seeding a new lawn | 4 in | 81 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| Building up a low spot | 6 in | 54 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
| Raised bed | 12 in | 27 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
Three worked topsoil jobs
Each job below adds 10% to the topsoil volume for settling and spills, and converts to tons at 1 tons per cubic yard.
| Job | Size | Cubic yards | With 10% extra | Tons to order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn seeding area | 25 × 40 ft at 4 in | 12.35 | 13.58 | 13.6 |
| Raised bed 4 x 8 | 8 × 4 ft at 12 in | 1.19 | 1.30 | 1.3 |
| Garden border | 30 × 3 ft at 3 in | 0.83 | 0.92 | 0.9 |
Before you order topsoil
- Screened topsoil is sifted free of rocks and roots. Unscreened costs less but needs more raking.
- A blend with compost is lighter. Ask the supplier for its weight per cubic yard if you are paying by the ton.
- Wet soil weighs more and settles less. Order slightly more than the figure when you are filling a deep area.
- Loosen the ground under new topsoil so roots can move down.
How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. Past about a yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper than bags.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of topsoil cover?
About 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep, or 162 sq ft at 2 inches.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
About 1 ton when moist; more when wet.
Is fill dirt the same as topsoil?
No. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter, used to raise grade. Use topsoil for the top 4 to 6 inches where plants grow.
How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need for a lawn?
Multiply the lawn area by the depth in feet and divide by 27. A 1,000 sq ft lawn with 4 inches of topsoil needs 12.35 cubic yards, or 13.6 with 10% extra.
How deep should topsoil be for a raised bed?
Raised beds are often filled 10 to 12 inches deep. A 4 by 8 ft bed 12 inches deep is 1.19 cubic yards.
Reference charts
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