Soil for a 4x4 Raised Bed 10 Inches Deep
How much soil for a 4x4 raised bed 10 inches deep: 13.3 cubic feet, which is 0.49 cubic yards, 7 bags of 2 cubic feet or 9 bags of 1.5 cubic feet.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math
- Volume: 4 × 4 × (10 ÷ 12) = 13.3 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 13.3 ÷ 27 = 0.49 yd³.
- Bags: 13.3 ÷ 2 = 7 bags (2 cu ft), or ÷ 1.5 = 9 bags (1.5 cu ft).
The topsoil calculator handles any bed size.
Related: Soil for a 4x4 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
Soil for a 4x4 bed at other depths
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | 2 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 8.0 | 0.30 | 4 |
| 8 in | 10.7 | 0.40 | 6 |
| 10 in | 13.3 | 0.49 | 7 |
| 12 in | 16.0 | 0.59 | 8 |
| 18 in | 24.0 | 0.89 | 12 |
| 24 in | 32.0 | 1.19 | 16 |
Bags or bulk?
Bulk soil is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bags once you pass roughly 1 yard. At 0.49 yards, bags are simpler. Fill several beds at once to make a delivery worthwhile.
Related: Soil for a 4x4 Raised Bed 18 Inches Deep
What to fill it with
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.
Delivery and spreading
Ask the supplier where the truck can safely dump without crossing soft lawn or septic fields. Cover the pile if rain is coming. Spread with a flat shovel and a landscape rake, working from the far end back toward the pile.
Checking quality
Squeeze a handful: quality topsoil holds together loosely and breaks apart, rather than forming a sticky ball of clay or falling apart like sand. Avoid soil that smells sour or contains debris.
Questions people ask
How many bags of soil for a 4x4 raised bed?
About 7 bags of 2 cubic feet at 10 inches deep.
How many cubic feet in a 4x4x10 inch bed?
13.3 cubic feet.
How many yards of soil for a 4x4 raised bed?
About 0.49 cubic yards at 10 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 3x8 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
- Soil for a 3x8 Raised Bed 18 Inches Deep
As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.