Topsoil Calculator
Calculate how much topsoil you need for lawns, gardens, and grading projects, in both cubic yards and tons.
Results
Visualization
How It Works
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of earth, rich in organic matter and nutrients. It is essential for establishing new lawns, filling garden beds, and grading uneven terrain. Quality topsoil is screened to remove rocks and debris.
The Formula
Volume (cu ft) = Length x Width x Depth / 12
Cubic Yards = Volume / 27
Tons = Cubic Yards x 1.1
Cubic Yards = Volume / 27
Tons = Cubic Yards x 1.1
Variables
- L — Length of the area in feet
- W — Width of the area in feet
- D — Desired depth in inches
- 1.1 — Approximate weight of topsoil in tons per cubic yard
Example
A 30 ft x 20 ft new lawn area at 6 inches of topsoil needs 300 cu ft = 11.11 cubic yards = 12.22 tons. At $30/yard that costs about $333.
Tips
- For new lawns, apply 4-6 inches of quality topsoil and till it into the existing ground.
- Screened topsoil is worth the premium because unscreened soil may contain rocks, roots, and weed seeds.
- Topsoil weight varies significantly with moisture content; dry topsoil is about 1.0 tons per cubic yard, wet can be 1.3.
- Mix topsoil with compost at a 2:1 ratio for the best garden bed growing medium.
- Buying in bulk (by the truckload) is much cheaper than bagged topsoil for areas larger than 100 square feet.