Soil for a 4x8 Raised Bed 24 Inches Deep
A raised bed 4 by 8 feet and 24 inches tall holds 64.0 cubic feet. How much soil for a 4x8 raised bed 24 inches deep in bags: 32 two-cubic-foot bags. In bulk: about 2.37 cubic yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math
- Volume: 4 × 8 × (24 ÷ 12) = 64.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 64.0 ÷ 27 = 2.37 yd³.
- Bags: 64.0 ÷ 2 = 32 bags (2 cu ft), or ÷ 1.5 = 43 bags (1.5 cu ft).
The topsoil calculator handles any bed size.
Related: Soil for a 4x8 Raised Bed 6 Inches Deep
Soil for a 4x8 bed at other depths
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | 2 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 16.0 | 0.59 | 8 |
| 8 in | 21.3 | 0.79 | 11 |
| 10 in | 26.7 | 0.99 | 14 |
| 12 in | 32.0 | 1.19 | 16 |
| 18 in | 48.0 | 1.78 | 24 |
| 24 in | 64.0 | 2.37 | 32 |
When bulk soil pays off
Bulk soil is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bags once you pass roughly 1 yard. At 2.37 yards, bulk delivery is likely the better deal. Fill several beds at once to make a delivery worthwhile.
Related: Soil for a 4x8 Raised Bed 8 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.
Weight and hauling
A cubic yard of soil can weigh a ton or more, and mulch roughly a quarter to half of that depending on moisture. Check your vehicle’s payload before hauling, and keep trailer loads within the rated capacity.
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 4x8 raised bed?
About 32 bags of 2 cubic feet at 24 inches deep.
How many cubic feet in a 4x8x24 inch bed?
64.0 cubic feet.
How many yards of soil for a 4x8 raised bed?
About 2.37 cubic yards at 24 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 4x8 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
- Soil for a 4x8 Raised Bed 18 Inches Deep
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