Topsoil Calculator
Yards, bags, and the truck-scale reality — for beds, raised beds, and lawn repair.
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Generated by AllUnits.io — allunits.io/calculators/topsoil
How this calculator figures it
Bag counts assume 0.75 cubic feet per 40 lb bag — the standard fill for bagged topsoil — so 36 bags make one cubic yard. Weight per yard runs roughly 2,000–2,700 lb depending on moisture, which is why suppliers sell soil by volume, not weight.
How it works
Worked example — a 10 × 10 ft area at 3 inches: 25 cu ft = 0.93 yd³ of bulk soil, or 34 forty-pound bags. Weight is always shown as a range (about 0.9–1.3 tons here) because moisture swings soil density — the volume is the number to order by. The raised-bed preset (4 × 8 × 1 ft) takes 32 cu ft: 1.19 yd³ or 43 bags.
Topsoil FAQs
How many bags in a yard?
36 × 40 lb bags.
How much does a 40 lb bag cover?
About 4.5 sq ft at 2 inches.
How deep for topdressing a lawn?
¼–½ inch only — deeper smothers grass. Beds and new lawns: 2–4 inches. General practice.
Topsoil, garden soil, or raised-bed mix?
Topsoil is fill/grading material; garden and raised-bed mixes are amended — use them for planting, topsoil for volume.
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Related calculators & sources
Covering the soil: Mulch Calculator. Starting a lawn on it: Sod Calculator or Grass Seed Calculator. Bag figures are cited at landscaping estimating figures; convert measurements with the volume and weight converters.
Estimates for planning and purchasing. Not engineering or code-compliance advice — confirm structural work with your local building department.