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Cubic yards, tons, and bags of topsoil for new lawns, garden beds, and raised beds.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Topsoil needed | 7.1 yd³ |
| Approximate weight | 7.81 tons |
| 0.75 cu ft bags | 256 bags |
| Bulk cost (plus delivery) | $142 – $355 |
| Area | 500 sq ft |
| Depth | 4 in |
| Volume before settling | 6.17 yd³ |
| Settling allowance (15%) | 0.93 yd³ |
| Total to order | 7.1 yd³ |
| Weight | 7.81 tons (15,617 lb) |
| 1 cu ft bags | 192 bags |
| 0.75 cu ft bags | 256 bags |
| Bulk price used | $20 – $50 per yd³ |
Above a cubic yard, bulk is far cheaper than bags (a yard of bagged topsoil costs $110–$200). A standard dump truck carries 10 to 14 yards; landscape suppliers deliver smaller loads for a flat fee.
Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard in bulk and by the cubic foot in bags, and it weighs more than people expect. Enter the area and depth and this calculator gives you the volume, the delivered weight, the number of 0.75 or 1 cubic foot bags, and a cost range — with an allowance for the 15 to 20% that loose soil settles once it is watered in.
Dry screened topsoil weighs about 2,000 to 2,200 pounds per cubic yard — roughly a ton. Wet topsoil can reach 2,700 pounds or more, so a delivery after rain is heavier than one on a dry day. Fill dirt with clay and stone is heavier still.
Four to six inches of good topsoil over loosened subsoil gives grass roots room to establish. For overseeding or levelling an existing lawn, a quarter to half an inch is enough — any more smothers the grass that is already there.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot. At $3 to $6 a bag, that is $110 to $200 per yard — two to four times the bulk price.
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 4 by 8 foot bed 12 inches deep needs 32 cubic feet, or 1.19 cubic yards. Add 20% because soil in a raised bed settles noticeably in the first season.
Topsoil is the organic-rich upper layer, screened to remove rocks and roots, and it grows plants. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter; it is cheaper and compacts well, so it is used to raise grades and fill holes before topsoil goes on top.
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