Topsoil Calculator
| Project | Volume | Weight | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| New lawn 50 x 100, 5 in | 77.2 yd³ | 84.9 t | 2083 bags |
| Raised bed 4 x 8, 8 in | 0.8 yd³ | 0.9 t | 21 bags |
| Topdressing 50 x 40, 0.5 in | 3.1 yd³ | 3.4 t | 83 bags |
| Patch repair 20 x 10, 2 in | 1.2 yd³ | 1.4 t | 33 bags |
| Veg garden 25 x 20, 6 in | 9.3 yd³ | 10.2 t | 250 bags |
Topsoil answers the same yards-times-depth math as gravel, with two honest twists: it is lighter per yard (loose topsoil runs about 1.1 tons per cubic yard, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet), and the depth you should buy is set by agronomy, not preference. Penn State Extension puts the lawn-establishment standard at a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of firmed, settled topsoil for good turf - measure the depth you actually have before you order, because the gap between 2 inches and 5 inches of soil is the difference between a lawn that shrugs off August and one that does not.
The bag question is the other calculator: bagged topsoil sells in cubic-foot bags, forty of them to a single yard, which is why anything past a raised bed or a few patch jobs is a bulk delivery by the yard - the calculator shows both so the delivery quote can be checked against the bag math. Established lawns play by a stricter rule: topdressing caps at a quarter to half an inch at a time, because smothering grass crowns costs more than the soil added.
Weight rounds out the order: a cubic yard of loose topsoil is about a ton and change on the scale, and moisture swings it - a saturated yard can carry another several hundred pounds. Delivery trucks, wheelbarrow trips and slope repairs all price off that tonnage, which is why the calculator shows yards and tons together and lets the depth dial do the negotiating.
How to use
- Measure the area in feet and decide the depth in inches - 4 to 6 for a new lawn, 6 to 8 to fill a raised bed, a quarter to half inch to topdress an existing lawn.
- Read the cubic yards for bulk delivery, the bag count for bagged product, and the tonnage if your supplier sells by weight.
- Order slightly under for depth checks after settling: loosed-tilled topsoil settles 10 to 20 percent in the first month, so the final grade is set after rain, not at delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Penn State Extension puts it at a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of good-quality topsoil, firmed or settled, for establishing quality turf - measured after compaction, not as loose dump height. Existing grade matters as much as depth: spread it, till it into the top few inches of native soil so there is no layered interface, then let it settle before seeding or sodding.
How much is a cubic yard of topsoil in bags?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 27 one-cubic-foot bags - the standard bag size at hardware stores. A 40-pound bag of topsoil holds closer to 0.75 cubic feet, which works out to 36 bags per yard. Past about 30 bags, bulk delivery by the yard is almost always cheaper per cubic foot and spares your back the ninety wheelbarrow equivalents.
How many tons is a yard of topsoil?
Loose topsoil runs about 1.1 tons per cubic yard; screened and drier blends sit near a ton, wet or clay-heavy loads push 1.3 or more. It is the lightest of the yard materials - a yard of gravel is roughly 1.4 tons - which is why topsoil delivery minimums are usually priced by the yard, not the ton.
Can I topdress an existing lawn with topsoil?
Yes, but thin: a quarter to half inch of screened topsoil worked down through the grass is the standing rule, repeated over seasons if needed. Bury the crowns under an inch and the grass spends the month climbing out instead of rooting. For level repairs deeper than an inch, lift the sod, add soil under it, and relay - the calculator's depth dial prices both approaches.
How much topsoil does a raised bed need?
A 4-by-8-foot bed at 8 inches deep takes about 0.8 cubic yards - roughly 22 cubic-foot bags or a single small bulk scoop. Mix in 25 to 50 percent compost by volume for vegetables; straight topsoil alone packs and drains poorly in a contained bed. Fill the bed in one delivery if you can - partial loads settle unevenly.
Why does my 5-yard delivery look like 4?
Settling and your eyes: loose-tilled topsoil drops 10 to 20 percent as air escapes over the first weeks of rain, and a conical pile always looks smaller than the number on the ticket. Verify by measuring the pile, not by the mood of the heap - length times width times height, divided by 27, is the same math this page runs on the area you are covering.