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Topsoil Calculator
A 20 × 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 2.72 cubic yards of topsoil (3.3 US tons) with a 10% settling allowance. Enter your own area and depth below.
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Estimate only. Bag yields, material density and waste vary by product and supplier. Confirm quantities with your supplier and check local building codes before you buy or build.
How much topsoil do I need?
Multiply area by depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). A 20 × 10 ft area is 200 square feet. At 4 inches deep that is 66.67 cubic feet, or 2.47 cubic yards. Add 10% for settling and waste and you order 2.72 cubic yards.
Topsoil calculator in cubic yards
Bulk topsoil is sold by the cubic yard, so that is the main result. For the same 20 × 10 ft area with the 10% allowance, 1 inch of top dressing takes 0.68 cubic yards, 3 inches of lawn repair 2.04, and 6 inches for a garden bed 4.07.
How deep should topsoil be?
Common depths: about 1 inch to top dress an established lawn, 2 to 3 inches to repair a lawn, 4 to 6 inches for a new lawn, 6 to 12 inches for garden beds and 12 to 18 inches for raised beds. Loose soil settles after watering, so add 10 to 15% extra, more if you will not compact or water it in.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Screened topsoil weighs roughly 1.0 to 1.4 US tons per cubic yard (2,000 to 2,800 pounds). Wet or clay-heavy soil is at the top of that range, dry or sandy soil at the bottom. This calculator assumes 1.2 tons per cubic yard; change the density box if your supplier quotes a different weight. A truck is loaded by weight, so ask for the supplier's figure before you order by the ton.
Topsoil cost: bulk vs bagged
Public 2026 cost guides (checked October 2026) put bulk topsoil at about $10 to $50 per cubic yard (LawnLove), with $25 to $50 delivered a typical middle, plus a delivery fee of roughly $50 to $150 per load. Bagged topsoil runs about $2 to $5 per 40 lb bag, and it takes about 36 of the 0.75 cubic foot bags to equal one cubic yard, so bags cost several times more per yard. Bags make sense below about one cubic yard. The prices prefilled here are examples, not quotes; replace them with your local numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need?
Length × width × depth in feet, divided by 27, plus about 10% for settling. For a 20 × 10 ft area at 4 inches deep that is 2.72 cubic yards.
How many bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. A 0.75 cubic foot (40 lb) bag fills 36 bags per yard, and a 1 cubic foot bag takes 27. Some brands print different volumes, so check the label.
How many bags of topsoil do I need?
For the default 20 × 10 ft area at 4 inches deep with 10% allowance: 98 bags of 0.75 cubic feet (40 lb) or 74 bags of 1 cubic foot.
How much does topsoil cost per yard?
Bulk topsoil is about $10 to $50 per cubic yard in 2026 guides, depending on region, screening and blend, plus delivery. Premium garden blends cost more. Bagged is about $2 to $5 per 40 lb bag, or roughly $70 to $180 per cubic yard.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
About 1.0 to 1.4 US tons (2,000 to 2,800 lb), depending on moisture and composition. The calculator uses 1.2 tons per yard by default and lets you change it.
How much topsoil do I need for a lawn?
Plan on 4 to 6 inches for a new lawn, 2 to 3 inches to repair thin or bare areas and about 1 inch to level an existing lawn. Use the depth box above.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a planning estimate, not an order. Bag yields, material density and waste vary by product, supplier and job, so confirm quantities with your supplier and check local building codes before you buy or pour.
Are my measurements saved?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
