About the soil calculator
Whether you're building a new vegetable bed, leveling a low corner of the yard, or laying soil before sod, the hardest part is usually knowing what to order. Bulk suppliers sell by the cubic yard, garden centers sell by the bag, and your measurements are probably in feet and inches. This calculator converts between all of them.
Enter the length and width of the area and the depth of soil you want. You'll get the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters, plus the number of bags for the bag size you plan to buy.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area. For irregular shapes, break the space into rectangles and calculate each one.
- Decide how deep the new soil should be. Use the depth guide below if you're not sure.
- Choose your units. You can mix them — for example, feet for length and inches for depth.
- Pick an extra allowance for settling (10% is a good starting point) and the bag size you're shopping for.
- Read your results, then copy or print them to take to the store or send to a supplier.
Worked examples
- A bed 12 ft long and 4 ft wide, filled 6 in deep.
- 12 × 4 × 0.5 = 24 cu ft
- 24 ÷ 27 = 0.89 cu yd
- 24 ÷ 1.5 = 16 bags of 1.5 cu ft
With a 10% allowance: 26.4 cu ft, about 0.98 cu yd, or 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
- A border 3 m long and 1.2 m wide, filled 15 cm deep.
- 3 × 1.2 × 0.15 = 0.54 m³ (540 L)
- 540 ÷ 50 = 10.8
11 bags of 50 L before any allowance.
Measurement guidance
Common soil depths
New lawn or sod: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of topsoil. Vegetable and flower beds: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm). Filling low spots or leveling: measure the deepest point and the shallowest, then use the average.
Irregular shapes
Split L-shaped or curved areas into rectangles and add the results together. For a circle, measure the diameter and use about 0.785 × diameter² as the area, then multiply by depth.
Bulk vs. bags
For anything over about 1–2 cubic yards, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and less work than bags. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — roughly 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of soil make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That's 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft, or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft (so 14 in practice).
Should I order extra soil?
Usually, yes. Loose soil settles once it's watered and compacted. Ordering about 10–20% more than the measured volume is common, especially for deep fills. The calculator lets you choose the allowance or set it to zero.
Does this work for topsoil, garden soil, and fill dirt?
Yes. The volume you need is the same regardless of the type of soil. What changes is weight and price, which vary by supplier.
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
It depends heavily on moisture and composition. Dry topsoil is often around 2,000 lb per cubic yard, and wet soil can be noticeably heavier. Ask your supplier if weight matters for hauling.