Topsoil Calculator
Enter your area and target depth to get topsoil in cubic yards, tons, and standard 1-cubic-foot bag counts.
Typical depths: 1–2" topdressing · 4–6" new lawn · 6–12" vegetable beds.
How the math works
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.2
Topsoil weight varies more than gravel because moisture and organic matter swing it between roughly 1.0 and 1.3 tons per cubic yard — we use 1.2 as a middle estimate. Bagged topsoil is usually sold in 1 or 1.5 cubic-foot bags; the bag count shows the 1 cu ft size, and a 1.5 bag count is just two-thirds as many.
How deep should topsoil be?
For a new lawn from seed, aim for 4–6 inches of loose, screened topsoil over tilled subsoil. For topdressing an existing lawn (leveling and feeding), ¼–½ inch worked into the grass is enough — more will smother it. Vegetable beds do best with 6–12 inches, often blended with compost.
FAQ
- Screened or unscreened?
- Screened for lawns and seeding (fine, no clumps). Unscreened is cheaper for filling deep holes first.
- Should I mix in compost?
- For beds and new lawns, a 70% topsoil / 30% compost blend gives much better results than pure topsoil.
- When should I spread it?
- Any time the ground isn't frozen or soaked; finish rough-grading and let it settle before seeding.