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Landscaping

Topsoil Calculator

By Nick Major · Founder, Calculator Campus Last updated July 18, 2026

The topsoil calculator estimates how many cubic yards of topsoil or fill dirt to order for a project — a new lawn, lawn leveling or top-dressing, a garden bed, or grading fill. Enter length by width (or a total area) and a depth, and it returns the cubic yards to order with an editable settling allowance folded in, plus an honest moisture-adjusted tons estimate and a bag count keyed to your bag size. Depth is the make-or-break input, so clickable depth-by-job presets prefill it for you.

Order Order about 4.07 cubic yards of topsoil

Start with topsoil and your area (length × width, or switch to a direct total area) and a depth — use the depth-by-job presets if you are unsure. Switch the material to fill dirt for grading, set the soil moisture for the tons estimate, and open options for a custom density, settling allowance, or prices.

Topsoil is the organic growing layer for lawns and beds. Fill dirt is subsoil for filling and grading — no organics, cheaper, and it compacts denser. Switching to fill dirt swaps to a fill density (loose ~2,200 / compacted ~2,700 lb/yd³); it does not silently reuse topsoil density.
Enter length × width (default) or a total area directly for irregular shapes you have already measured.
The length of the area to cover. Feet by default; switch the unit if you measured in inches or yards.
The width of the area to cover, in the selected unit.
Enter your total area in square feet directly instead of length × width — useful for irregular shapes or added-up sub-areas.
How deep the material should be. This is the most-guessed input and the make-or-break number — use the depth-by-job presets if you are unsure. Default 4 in matches a new-lawn base.
Pick your project and we prefill a sensible depth: top-dressing (0.25-0.5 in), lawn leveling (1-3 in), new lawn (3-6 in), garden bed (6-12 in), or grading fill. These are guidance ranges, not a code minimum — edit the depth after prefilling.
Delivered soil weight swings with moisture. Dry ~2,000 lb/yd³, moist / stockpiled ~2,200 (the realistic delivered default), saturated ~3,000. This sets the density used for the tons estimate — tons is always an estimate. Choose Custom to type your supplier's figure.
Fill dirt is bought and placed by compaction, not moisture. Loose delivered fill runs ~2,200 lb/yd³ (about the same as moist topsoil); compacted fill runs ~2,700. This sets the density used for the tons estimate — tons is always an estimate. Choose Custom to type your supplier's figure.
Volume of the bags you would buy, in cubic feet. A typical 40 lb bag holds about 0.75 ft³ (~36 per cubic yard); 1.0 ft³ bags give the '27 per yard' figure; 1.5 ft³ bags give 18. Bag count depends on bag SIZE, not weight.
Advanced options
Your supplier's bulk density in pounds per cubic yard. Topsoil typically runs 2,000 (dry) to 3,000 (saturated); a common moist figure is ~2,200.
Your supplier's fill-dirt bulk density in pounds per cubic yard. Fill dirt typically runs ~2,200 (loose) to ~2,700 (compacted).
Extra to order because loose delivered soil settles and uneven ground averages low. Default 10% (commonly 10-15%). This is a field estimate folded into the cubic-yards-to-order number, not an exact cited constant.
Optional. Your supplier's bulk price per cubic yard for a delivered-cost estimate and a bulk-vs-bag comparison. Leave blank — the tool gives a full answer with no price entered.
Optional. Price of one bag at the selected bag size for a bagged-cost estimate and a bulk-vs-bagged comparison. Leave blank if you are not comparing.
Order Order about 4.07 cubic yards of topsoil
Cubic yards to order 4.07 cu yd
Cubic yards (before allowance) 3.70 cu yd
Cubic feet 100 cu ft
Estimated tons about 4.07 tons (estimate, moist / stockpiled)
Bags (at selected size) 134 bags at 0.75 ft³
Show calculation details
Why tons is a range Weight uses 2,200 lb/yd³ (moist / stockpiled). Delivered soil runs roughly 1,500-3,000 lb per cubic yard with moisture, so tons is an estimate, not an exact weight.
Settling allowance A 10% settling allowance is folded into the ordered quantity (3.70 → 4.07 cu yd). It is an editable field estimate, not a cited constant.
Coverage This volume covers about 300 sq ft at 4.00 in; one 0.75 ft³ bag covers about 2.3 sq ft at that depth.
Topsoil vs fill dirt Topsoil is the organic growing layer for lawns and beds. For pure volume or grading under a slab, switch the material to fill dirt.
Show calculation details 300 sq ft × 4.00 in ÷ 12 = 100 cu ft ÷ 27 = 3.70 cu yd. Tons = 3.70 × 2,200 ÷ 2,000. Bags = ceil(100 ÷ 0.75) = 134 (exact 133.33).
Cost estimate —
Input advisories Uneven ground averages low — average the depth or measure sub-areas, and lean on the settling allowance.

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How much topsoil to order

The number you buy on is the cubic yards to order — the raw volume from your area and depth, plus a settling allowance folded in. Tons and bags sit alongside it, and depth is the make-or-break input, so the sections below walk the decision from depth to volume to tons and bags to ordering a little extra.

Depth is make-or-break

Depth is the most-guessed input and the usual reason people run short. Use a depth-by-job preset instead of guessing shallow — it prefills a sensible depth you can still edit.

Tons is an estimate

A cubic yard of soil runs roughly 1,500-3,000 lb depending on moisture, so the tons figure is a moisture-band estimate, not an exact weight. Set the moisture control to match your soil.

Bags depend on size

Bag count is keyed to bag SIZE (0.75, 1.0, or 1.5 ft³), not the weight printed on the bag. That is the answer to the 27-versus-36-per-yard question.

Order a little extra

Loose delivered soil settles and uneven ground averages low, so the editable settling allowance (default 10%) is folded into the cubic-yards-to-order number for you.

Worked example: a new lawn

Take a new lawn of 1,000 sq ft at a 4 in depth with moist / stockpiled soil. Area times depth is 1,000 × 4 ÷ 12 = 333.3 cubic feet, which is 333.3 ÷ 27 = 12.35 cubic yards before any allowance. Adding the default 10% settling allowance gives about 13.58 cubic yards to order. At the moist default of 2,200 lb/yd³ the weight is roughly 13.58 tons — an estimate tied to that moisture band, not an exact weight. If you were buying bagged soil at 0.75 ft³ per bag, the same job is 333.3 ÷ 0.75 ≈ 444.4, rounded up to 445 bags — which is why bulk delivery wins well before a job this size.

Topsoil depth by project type

Depth is the make-or-break input — guessing shallow is the usual reason people run short. These are guidance ranges from garden-almanac and extension practice, not code minimums; the depth-by-job presets in the tool prefill the midpoint of each range and you can edit it.

Project typeRecommended depth range
Top-dressing an existing lawn0.25-0.5 in
Leveling / low-spot repair1-3 in
New lawn (before seeding or sod)3-6 in
Garden / planting bed6-12 in
Grading / structural fillVaries by site

Guidance ranges, not a code minimum. Match the deeper end for poor existing soil and the shallower end when you are amending soil that is already decent.

Cubic yards to tons by moisture

Delivered soil weight swings with moisture, so the tons figure is always an estimate shown with the band it used. The dry end is anchored to USDA-NRCS loam bulk density; the moist / stockpiled row is the realistic delivered default; saturated is the wet upper bound. The tool does not adopt any single vendor's fixed density.

Moisture stateApprox lb per cubic yardTons per cubic yard (estimate)
Dry2,000 lb/yd³about 1.0 ton
Moist / stockpiled (default)2,200 lb/yd³about 1.1 tons
Saturated3,000 lb/yd³about 1.5 tons

Multiply your cubic yards by the tons-per-yard figure for your soil's moisture. Confirm bulk density with your supplier for large orders; these are estimate bands, not exact weights.

How deep should the topsoil be?

Depth drives the whole estimate, and a shallow guess is the usual reason an order comes up short — doubling the depth doubles the volume. Match the job: top-dressing an existing lawn wants only 0.25-0.5 in, leveling low spots 1-3 in, a new lawn before seeding or sod 3-6 in, and a garden or planting bed 6-12 in; grading fill varies with the site. These are guidance ranges from garden-almanac and extension practice, not code minimums, so lean deeper for poor existing soil. The depth-by-job presets in the tool prefill the midpoint of each range and leave the depth editable, and the depth-by-project table above is the same guidance at a glance.

Why the tons figure is a range

Topsoil weight is not fixed. A cubic yard runs roughly 1,500-3,000 lb depending on moisture and composition: dry soil near 2,000 lb, moist or freshly stockpiled soil around 2,200-2,600 lb, and saturated soil up toward 3,000 lb. The dry end is anchored to USDA-NRCS loam-family bulk density; delivered soil is usually moist and weighs more, which is why the moist / stockpiled band is the realistic default. Because the real number depends on your soil's moisture, the tool labels tons an estimate and shows the band it used, and it lets you set the moisture or type a custom density. It deliberately does not adopt any single vendor's fixed density as a fact — a weight you cannot see the basis of is worse than an honest range.

How many bags — and the 27-vs-36 question

Bag count is keyed to bag size, not the weight printed on the bag. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so the bags-per-yard figure is simply 27 divided by the bag's volume. A '40 lb bag' is a mass label; the roughly 0.75 cubic feet of soil it holds is what determines coverage and count. That is why '27 bags per yard' and '36 bags per yard' are both correct — they assume different bag sizes:

Bag sizeBags per cubic yard
0.75 ft³ (typical 40 lb bag)36
1.0 ft³27
1.5 ft³18

The tool keys its bag count to the size you select and rounds up, because you cannot buy a partial bag.

Topsoil vs fill dirt, and ordering extra for settling

Topsoil is the organic growing layer for lawns and beds; fill dirt is subsoil for filling and grading — no organics, cheaper, and it compacts denser. Loose delivered fill weighs about the same as moist topsoil (~2,200 lb/yd³) but compacts toward ~2,700, so use fill to build up or level a grade and topsoil for anything that has to grow, and switch the material and pick loose or compacted so the density basis changes rather than silently reusing topsoil's. Whichever you order, order a little extra: loose delivered soil settles and uneven ground averages low, so the editable settling allowance (default 10%, commonly 10-15%) is folded into the cubic-yards-to-order number. It is a field estimate, not a cited constant. Coverage is the reverse question — how far a given volume spreads at a chosen depth:

Container1 in deep2 in deep3 in deep
One cubic yard324 sq ft162 sq ft108 sq ft
One 0.75 ft³ bag9 sq ft4.5 sq ft3 sq ft

That is why a single cubic yard covers a surprising amount of lawn at a thin top-dressing depth but very little of a deep garden bed.

References

  1. Soil Health — Bulk Density Guide

    USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) · accessed 2026-07-18

  2. NIST Handbook 44 — unit definitions (yard, foot, short ton)

    National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · accessed 2026-07-18

  3. NIST Special Publication 811 — SI unit conversions

    National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · accessed 2026-07-18

  4. Dirt and Mud — Densities (delivered soil weight bands)

    Engineering ToolBox · accessed 2026-07-18

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert cubic yards of topsoil to tons?
Multiply your cubic yards by the bulk density in pounds per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000. At the moist / stockpiled default of 2,200 lb/yd³, one cubic yard is about 1.1 tons, so 10 cubic yards is roughly 11 tons. Delivered weight swings with moisture — dry soil is near 2,000 lb/yd³ and saturated soil up toward 3,000 — so tons is always an estimate; set the moisture control or type your supplier's density. The dry end is anchored to USDA-NRCS loam bulk density.
How many 40 lb bags of topsoil are in a cubic yard?
About 36. A 40 lb bag holds roughly 0.75 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 27 ÷ 0.75 = 36 bags. The count is keyed to the bag's SIZE, not its weight: 1.0 ft³ bags give the familiar '27 per yard' figure and 1.5 ft³ bags give 18. The tool uses the bag size you select and rounds up, because you cannot buy a partial bag.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn versus leveling an existing lawn?
A new lawn before seeding or sod wants about 3-6 inches of topsoil; leveling low spots on an existing lawn needs only 1-3 inches; and top-dressing an established lawn is a thin 0.25-0.5 inch. These are guidance ranges from garden-almanac and extension practice, not code minimums — lean to the deeper end for poor existing soil. The depth-by-job presets prefill a sensible depth for each of these that you can still edit.
Should I order extra topsoil for settling and uneven ground?
Yes. Loose delivered soil settles as it is watered and walked in, and uneven ground averages lower than a single depth reading, so most people order roughly 10-15% extra. The tool folds an editable settling allowance (default 10%) into the cubic-yards-to-order number. It is a field estimate with no single governing authority, not a cited constant, so raise or lower it to match your site.
What's the difference between topsoil and fill dirt?
Topsoil is the organic, screened growing layer you put under sod, seed, and planting beds. Fill dirt is subsoil with the organics removed — cheaper, and it compacts denser — used to build up or level a grade rather than to grow in. Loose delivered fill weighs about the same as moist topsoil (~2,200 lb/yd³) but compacts toward ~2,700, so switch the material and pick loose or compacted; the density basis changes rather than silently reusing topsoil's for fill. A common approach is to raise a low area with fill and cap it with topsoil wherever things need to grow.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1,500-3,000 lb depending on moisture and composition: dry soil near 2,000 lb, moist or freshly stockpiled soil around 2,200-2,600 lb, and saturated soil up toward 3,000 lb. At the moist default of 2,200 lb/yd³ that is about 1.1 tons per cubic yard. The dry end is anchored to USDA-NRCS loam bulk density; because the real figure moves with moisture, the tool treats tons as an estimate and shows the band it used.
How much will a 40 lb bag of topsoil cover?
A 0.75 ft³ bag (a typical 40 lb bag) covers about 9 square feet at 1 inch deep, 4.5 square feet at 2 inches, and 3 square feet at 3 inches — coverage is the bag's volume times 12, divided by the depth in inches. Coverage tracks the bag's VOLUME, not the 40 lb weight printed on it. For comparison, a full cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch.
Is bulk delivery or bagged topsoil cheaper?
Bagged soil is convenient and often makes sense for small touch-ups, but bulk delivery is usually cheaper per yard once you need more than about 1.5-2 cubic yards, where bag prices and handling add up. There is no universal cutoff because it depends on your local bag and bulk prices and delivery fees, so enter both prices in the tool and it will tell you which is cheaper at your size.
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