Soil for a 5x10 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
How much soil for a 5x10 raised bed 12 inches deep: 50.0 cubic feet, which is 1.85 cubic yards, 25 bags of 2 cubic feet or 34 bags of 1.5 cubic feet.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math
- Volume: 5 × 10 × (12 ÷ 12) = 50.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: 50.0 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³.
- Bags: 50.0 ÷ 2 = 25 bags (2 cu ft), or ÷ 1.5 = 34 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 5x10 bed at other depths
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | 2 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in | 25.0 | 0.93 | 13 |
| 8 in | 33.3 | 1.23 | 17 |
| 10 in | 41.7 | 1.54 | 21 |
| 12 in | 50.0 | 1.85 | 25 |
| 18 in | 75.0 | 2.78 | 38 |
| 24 in | 100.0 | 3.70 | 50 |
When bulk soil pays off
Bulk soil is usually cheaper per cubic yard than bags once you pass roughly 1 yard. At 1.85 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 12 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
Expect the bed to sink a few inches as the soil settles and organic matter breaks down. Mound it a little at first and water it in before planting. In very deep beds, the bottom few inches can be coarse material, since most vegetable roots work the top 12 inches.
Timing the job
Spring and early fall are the easiest times to spread soil and mulch: the ground is workable and plants are ready to root. Avoid spreading right before heavy rain, which can wash fresh material off slopes and into drains.
Measuring accurately
Walk the area with a tape and sketch it. Break odd shapes into rectangles and circles. If you are topping up an existing bed or lawn, measure only the new depth, since adding a full depth on top of existing soil overbuys.
Questions people ask
How many bags of soil for a 5x10 raised bed?
About 25 bags of 2 cubic feet at 12 inches deep.
How many cubic feet in a 5x10x12 inch bed?
50.0 cubic feet.
How many yards of soil for a 5x10 raised bed?
About 1.85 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 4x12 Raised Bed 18 Inches Deep
- Soil for a 4x16 Raised Bed 12 Inches Deep
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