This soil calculator works out the soil volume plus every way to buy it for your beds — 1.5 cu ft bags, 2 cu ft bags, or a bulk cubic-yard order — with the cost of each. No sign-up. The working is shown under every number.
Quick example: two 8 × 4 ft raised beds filled 12 in deep need 64 cu ft of soil — 43 bags of 1.5 cu ft ($236.50), 32 bags of 2 cu ft ($224.00), or 2.5 cubic yards in bulk ($112.50) at the example prices.
| Item | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total | $0.00 |
The three buying lines are alternatives — buy one, not all three. Bulk usually wins above about 1 cubic yard if you have somewhere to tip it.
Estimate only — not a guarantee. Mistakes are possible, so always check the quantities with your supplier or a builder before you buy or build.
A 4 × 8 ft bed filled 12 in deep holds 4 × 8 × 1 = 32 cu ft of soil, which is 1.19 cubic yards. In bags that is 22 bags of 1.5 cu ft, or 16 bags of 2 cu ft — the figures published soil guides give for this classic bed size.
Two 8 × 4 ft beds at 12 in deep need 64 cu ft in total: 43 bags of 1.5 cu ft at $236.50, or 32 bags of 2 cu ft at $224.00, at this calculator's example prices.
At the example prices, the two-bed job above costs $236.50 in 1.5 cu ft bags, $224.00 in 2 cu ft bags, or $112.50 as a 2.5 cubic yard bulk order — bulk is less than half the bag price once you need more than about 1 cubic yard, if you have somewhere to tip it.
This calculator lets you set any depth: 6 in suits salad greens and herbs, 12 in is the standard for most vegetables, and 18 in or more suits root crops and beds built on concrete or very poor ground.
| Bed job | Soil volume | Bags (1.5 cu ft) | Cost | Bags (2 cu ft) | Cost | Bulk order & cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft bed, 12 in deep, 1 bed | 16 cu ft | 11 | $60.50 | 8 | $56.00 | 1.0 cu yd — $45.00 |
| 8 × 4 ft bed, 12 in deep, 1 bed | 32 cu ft | 22 | $121.00 | 16 | $112.00 | 1.5 cu yd — $67.50 |
| 8 × 4 ft beds, 12 in deep, 2 beds | 64 cu ft | 43 | $236.50 | 32 | $224.00 | 2.5 cu yd — $112.50 |
| 8 × 4 ft beds, 6 in deep, 2 beds | 32 cu ft | 22 | $121.00 | 16 | $112.00 | 1.5 cu yd — $67.50 |
Bulk orders are rounded up to the nearest 0.5 cubic yard. Bags and bulk are alternatives — buy one, not both. Costs use the example prices in the calculator above.
These figures are planning estimates only — not a guarantee and not professional advice. Mistakes are possible, including through an error in this calculator. Always check the quantities, sizes, spacings and depths with your supplier, a licensed builder, and your local building code before you buy materials or start work. The owner of this site accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, cost, damage, injury, wasted material or failed inspection that results from using these estimates. Prices are examples to start from, not live prices or quotes.