This topsoil calculator works out every way to buy topsoil — a bulk cubic-yard order with its weight, or bag counts — with the cost of each. No sign-up. The working is shown under every number.
Quick example: a 20 × 10 ft area covered 4 in deep needs 3.0 cubic yards of topsoil in bulk ($135.00), 98 × 40 lb bags ($392.00) or 37 × 2 cu ft bags ($259.00) at the example prices.
| Item | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total | $0.00 |
The 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.
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A quick shortcut with the depth in inches: length × width × depth in inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. A 10 × 10 ft area at 6 in deep is 100 × 6 ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards — this calculator rounds a bulk order up to 2.0 cubic yards.
A 40 lb bag of topsoil holds about 0.75 cu ft, so one cubic yard (27 cu ft) is about 36 bags. The 20 × 10 ft, 4 in deep example above needs 73.3 cu ft once settling is allowed for — 98 bags, which is why bulk delivery usually wins on any job bigger than a few bags.
Fresh topsoil settles and compacts after watering and rain — 10% extra is the usual allowance, and this calculator includes it by default. If you are screeding a lawn dead level, keep the 10%; for rough filling of dips, 15% is safer. You can change the percentage in the calculator.
About 2,400 lb (roughly 1.2 tons) for typical screened topsoil, though wet soil can weigh noticeably more. The calculator shows the approximate weight of a bulk order so you can judge whether your trailer or truck bed can carry it, or whether delivery is the sensible option.
| Area & depth | Bulk order | 40 lb bags | 2 cu ft bags | Bulk cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft, 2 in deep | 1.0 cu yd | 25 | 10 | $45.00 |
| 20 × 10 ft, 4 in deep | 3.0 cu yd | 98 | 37 | $135.00 |
| 30 × 20 ft, 3 in deep | 6.5 cu yd | 220 | 83 | $292.50 |
Bulk orders are rounded up to the nearest 0.5 cubic yard. Bag counts are worked out on the volume including the settling allowance. Bags and bulk are alternatives — buy one or the other, not both.
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.