The Raised Bed Calculator tells you exactly how much soil to buy before you build your garden bed — no guesswork, no wasted trips to the store. Select your bed shape (rectangle, square, or circle), enter the length, width, and depth, then choose a soil type to see your total soil volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, plus the number of bags needed and an estimated cost.
Soil Needed (Cubic Yards)
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Cubic Feet
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Bags Needed
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Estimated Cost
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Most vegetables need 6-12 inches of soil depth. Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips need deeper beds (12+ inches), while leafy greens can thrive in 6-8 inches.
Potting mix is lighter, drains better, and contains organic matter perfect for containers and raised beds. Topsoil is denser and better for in-ground gardens but may need amendments for raised beds.
Yes, old potting soil can be refreshed by mixing in fresh compost, fertilizer, and new soil. Replace about 1/3 of the old soil with fresh amendments each season.
Costs vary by soil type and location. Expect $3-8 per cubic foot for quality potting mix, or $20-60 per cubic yard for bulk soil delivery.
For beds under 4 cubic yards, bagged soil is convenient. For larger projects, bulk delivery is more economical. Bagged soil is typically higher quality and weed-free.
A popular mix is 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir, and 1/3 vermiculite. You can also use quality bagged potting mix with added compost.
Soil settles and decomposes over time. Plan to add 2-4 inches of fresh soil or compost each growing season to maintain proper depth and fertility.
If using quality potting mix or compost blend, additional fertilizer isn't immediately necessary. For plain topsoil, mix in compost and balanced fertilizer before planting.