Soil for a 2x10 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
A raised bed 2 by 10 feet and 12 inches tall holds 20.0 cubic feet. How much soil for a 2x10 raised bed 12 inches deep in bags: 10 two-cubic-foot bags. In bulk: about 0.74 cubic yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math
- Volume: 2 × 10 × (12 ÷ 12) = 20.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 20.0 ÷ 27 = 0.74 yd³.
- Bags: 20.0 ÷ 2 = 10 bags (2 cu ft), or ÷ 1.5 = 14 bags (1.5 cu ft).
The topsoil calculator handles any bed size.
Related: Soil for a 4x10 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
Soil for a 2x10 bed at other depths
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | 2 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 10.0 | 0.37 | 5 |
| 8 in | 13.3 | 0.49 | 7 |
| 10 in | 16.7 | 0.62 | 9 |
| 12 in | 20.0 | 0.74 | 10 |
| 18 in | 30.0 | 1.11 | 15 |
| 24 in | 40.0 | 1.48 | 20 |
When bulk soil pays off
Bulk soil is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bags once you pass roughly 1 yard. At 0.74 yards, bags are simpler. Fill several beds at once to make a delivery worthwhile.
Related: Soil for a 4x8 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
A good raised bed mix
A common home mix is roughly 60 percent topsoil and 40 percent compost, or equal parts topsoil, compost and a drainage material. Avoid filling with plain clay fill dirt, which packs hard.
Settling
New soil settles, often by 10 to 20 percent in the first season. Overfill slightly or plan to top up with compost next spring. In very deep beds, the bottom few inches can be coarse material, since most vegetable roots work the top 12 inches.
Common mistakes
Many people underestimate settling, so beds end up low by the second season. Others pile soil or mulch against tree trunks and siding, which invites rot and insects. Wet, sticky soil should wait for a drier day before spreading.
Measuring accurately
Measure each bed or area in feet and multiply length by width for square feet. For curved beds, a rough rectangle around the shape overestimates; split it into smaller shapes instead. Measure the depth you actually want to add, not the total depth of the bed if some soil is already there.
Questions people ask
How many bags of soil for a 2x10 raised bed?
About 10 bags of 2 cubic feet at 12 inches deep.
How many cubic feet in a 2x10x12 inch bed?
20.0 cubic feet.
How many yards of soil for a 2x10 raised bed?
About 0.74 cubic yards at 12 inches deep.
What soil mix is best for raised beds?
Topsoil blended with compost, roughly 60/40, is a common starting point.
Will raised bed soil settle?
Yes, often 10 to 20 percent in the first season.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Yard of Topsoil Cover?
- How Many Bags of Topsoil in a Yard? Size Chart
- Fill Dirt vs Topsoil: Differences, Uses and Tons to Order
- How Much Does a Yard of Dirt Weigh? Topsoil, Fill, Clay
- Soil for a 4x16 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
- Soil for a 5x10 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
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