Calculate topsoil for new lawns, raised beds, and grading. Enter your area and depth to get cubic yards, approximate tons, and 40 lb bag counts — with a settling allowance built in.
How to use this calculator
- Enter length, width, and depth — 4–6 inches for new lawns, 8–12 inches for garden beds.
- Keep the default 10% settling allowance; topsoil compacts after rain and foot traffic.
- Add your supplier’s price per cubic yard for a delivered cost estimate.
The math behind it
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27, plus the settling factor. Weight uses ≈ 1.25 tons per cubic yard. Bag counts assume 40 lb bags at ≈ 0.75 cubic feet each.
FAQs
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?
A 20×10 ft area at 4 inches deep needs about 2.7 cubic yards. For a full new lawn, 4–6 inches of topsoil over the subgrade is the standard recommendation.
Topsoil vs fill dirt — what’s the difference?
Topsoil is the dark, organic-rich upper layer that supports plant growth — use it for the top 4+ inches. Fill dirt is cheaper subsoil for raising grade underneath; it won’t grow much on its own. See our fill dirt calculator for that.