How much garden soil do I need?
Garden soil, often a blend of topsoil and compost, fills raised beds and containers and tops up planting areas.
Enter the length, width, and depth of your area above. The calculator shows cubic yards, cubic feet, an estimated weight in tons, and the number of 1 cubic foot bags if you buy bagged garden soil. Add a price per cubic yard and it also estimates the cost.
Cubic yard calculator for garden soil
This cubic yard calculator for garden soil works for any shape. Pick rectangle for most beds and slabs, circle for round areas, or trench for narrow runs. Open the price estimator under the calculator to add your supplier price, delivery fee, and tax. For a full cost breakdown, see the cubic yard price estimator.
Garden Soil weight and bags per cubic yard
A planning value for garden soil is 1,700 pounds per cubic yard, which is 0.85 US tons. Moisture, particle size, and compaction move that number, so treat it as a starting point.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Pounds per cubic yard | 1,700 |
| US tons per cubic yard | 0.85 |
| Kilograms per cubic yard | 771 |
| Cubic yards per US ton | 1.18 |
| Cubic feet per US ton | 31.76 |
| 1 cubic foot bags per cubic yard | 27.0 |
How far does a cubic yard of garden soil go?
Coverage depends only on depth. The deeper the layer, the less area a cubic yard covers. The suggested depth for garden soil is 6 to 12 inches, and 8 inches is a common choice.
| Depth (inches) | Square feet covered | Square yards covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 324 | 36.0 |
| 2 | 162 | 18.0 |
| 3 | 108 | 12.0 |
| 4 | 81 | 9.0 |
| 6 | 54 | 6.0 |
| 8 | 40 | 4.5 |
| 12 | 27 | 3.0 |
Garden Soil needed for common areas at 8 inches deep
| Area | Square feet | Cubic yards | US tons | 1 cubic foot bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 by 5 ft | 25 | 0.62 | 0.52 | 17 |
| 8 by 10 ft | 80 | 1.98 | 1.68 | 54 |
| 10 by 10 ft | 100 | 2.47 | 2.10 | 67 |
| 10 by 20 ft | 200 | 4.94 | 4.20 | 134 |
| 12 by 12 ft | 144 | 3.56 | 3.02 | 96 |
| 15 by 20 ft | 300 | 7.41 | 6.30 | 200 |
| 20 by 20 ft | 400 | 9.88 | 8.40 | 267 |
| 20 by 30 ft | 600 | 14.81 | 12.59 | 400 |
| 30 by 40 ft | 1,200 | 29.63 | 25.19 | 800 |
| 50 by 50 ft | 2,500 | 61.73 | 52.47 | 1,667 |
Worked example: 8 by 4 feet at 8 inches
The area is 8 feet times 4 feet, or 32 square feet. A depth of 8 inches is 0.67 feet. Volume is 32 times 0.67, which is 21.33 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get 0.79 cubic yards. At 1,700 pounds per cubic yard that weighs about 0.67 US tons. With 10 percent extra, order 0.87 cubic yards.
Tips for ordering garden soil
- Fill raised beds to within an inch or two of the top, because the soil settles.
- Vegetable beds do well with 8 to 12 inches of loose, rich soil.
- Order extra for the first year, since new beds shrink as they settle.
Blends vary widely, so ask what percentage of compost the supplier mixes in.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of garden soil do I need?
Multiply length, width, and depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 8 by 4 foot area at 8 inches deep needs about 0.79 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of garden soil weigh?
About 1,700 pounds, or 0.85 US tons, as a planning value. Ask your supplier for the exact figure.
How deep should garden soil be?
Most projects use 6 to 12 inches. 8 inches is a common choice.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of garden soil cover?
40 square feet at 8 inches deep, and 324 square feet at 1 inch.
How many bags of garden soil make a cubic yard?
About 27 bags of the 1 cubic foot size, which yields about 1 cubic feet each.