Enter your garden bed's dimensions — Length and Width for rectangles, Radius for circles, or Base and Height for triangles — plus your desired Depth, and the Topsoil Calculator figures out exactly how much you need, giving you Volume in Cubic Feet, Bags Needed, Estimated Weight, and Total Area.
Topsoil Needed
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Volume in Cubic Feet
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Bags Needed (0.75 cu ft)
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Estimated Weight
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Total Area
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For most lawn patching, 2-3 inches is sufficient. New garden beds typically need 4-6 inches, while vegetable gardens perform best with 6-8 inches of quality topsoil.
Screened topsoil is filtered to remove debris and is ideal for lawns. Compost mix contains organic matter and nutrients, perfect for gardens. Fill dirt is unscreened and best for leveling areas where plants won't grow.
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If using standard 0.75 cubic foot bags, you'll need 36 bags per cubic yard. For 1 cubic foot bags, you'll need 27 bags.
For projects requiring more than 3-4 cubic yards, bulk topsoil is typically more economical. For smaller projects or areas with difficult access, bagged topsoil offers convenience and easier handling.
A cubic yard of topsoil typically weighs between 1,000-1,300 pounds (0.5-0.65 tons) when dry. Wet topsoil can weigh significantly more, up to 1,800 pounds per cubic yard.
Topsoil naturally settles and compacts over time, and some material may be lost during transport or application. Adding 10-20% extra ensures you have adequate coverage after settling occurs.
Yes, this calculator works perfectly for raised beds. Use the rectangle option and enter your bed dimensions. For raised beds, you'll typically want 6-12 inches of depth depending on what you're growing.
Compost or garden mix is ideal for vegetables as it contains organic matter and nutrients. Look for topsoil with a pH between 6.0-7.0 and good drainage properties for optimal vegetable growth.