How Much Topsoil for 400 Square Feet?
Spreading topsoil over 400 square feet takes 4.94 cubic yards at the common 4-inch depth for new lawns and beds. How much topsoil for 400 square feet depends mostly on that depth.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Topsoil by depth over 400 sq ft
| Depth | Cubic yards | Approx. tons | 1 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.23 | 1.5 | 34 |
| 2 in | 2.47 | 3.0 | 67 |
| 3 in | 3.70 | 4.4 | 100 |
| 4 in | 4.94 | 5.9 | 134 |
| 6 in | 7.41 | 8.9 | 200 |
Tons use roughly 1.2 tons per cubic yard; wet soil is heavier, so check the supplier’s figure if they sell by weight.
Related: How Much Topsoil for 100 Square Feet?
Which depth?
Use 4 to 6 inches for a new lawn on poor soil, 2 inches for leveling, and a thin skim when top dressing. More is not always better: piling soil around trees can harm their roots.
Buying it
Order bulk; bags at this volume cost far more and mean a lot of lifting. Ask whether the soil is screened, which removes rocks and roots. See how much a yard of topsoil covers.
Related: How Much Topsoil for 500 Square Feet?
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.
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.
Timing the job
Plan deliveries for a dry stretch so the pile and the ground are workable. Early spring mulching suppresses weeds before they sprout, while fall soil work gives beds time to settle before planting.
Questions people ask
How many yards of topsoil for 400 sq ft?
About 4.94 cubic yards at 4 inches deep.
How much topsoil for 400 sq ft at 2 inches?
About 2.47 cubic yards.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
About 4 to 6 inches.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 to 1.4 tons depending on moisture.
Should I buy screened topsoil?
Yes for lawns and beds; screening removes rocks, roots and clods.
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
- How Much Topsoil for 250 Square Feet?
- How Much Topsoil for 300 Square Feet?
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