Calculator

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (in)

Density (lb/ft³)

Price per Cubic Yard ($)

Cubic Yards

Estimated Weight

tons

Estimated Cost

Loose topsoil weighs roughly 75 lb/ft³ on average (moisture and compost content push this up or down), the default used here — a common rule of thumb pegs a cubic yard of topsoil at about a ton. Suppliers usually price soil by the yard rather than the ton, so cost is calculated per cubic yard.

Enter length, width, and depth to calculate topsoil volume, weight, and cost.

How to Use the Soil Calculator

Enter the bed or yard's length, width, and depth in inches, then set a price per cubic yard if a cost estimate is useful — soil is typically sold and delivered by the yard, not the ton.

cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × (depth (in) ÷ 12)
weight = cubic feet × density (lb/ft³)

A widely repeated rule of thumb puts a cubic yard of topsoil at roughly a ton — that works out to about 75 lb/ft³, the default used here. Real topsoil varies with organic matter and moisture content; a bag of screened, bagged garden soil weighs less than the same volume of wet native clay-loam dug from a yard.

Topsoil, Fill Dirt, and Garden Blends Aren't the Same Thing

Fill dirt is cheaper and denser, meant for grading and leveling, not growing anything. Garden soil blends (often cut with compost or peat) are lighter and pricier, meant for raised beds and planting. If the project is a mix — fill dirt below, garden soil on top — run this calculator twice, once per layer with its own depth and density.