How Much Topsoil for 500 Square Feet?
How much topsoil for 500 square feet: about 6.17 cubic yards at 4 inches deep, or 3.09 yards for a 2-inch top dressing.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Topsoil by depth over 500 sq ft
| Depth | Cubic yards | Approx. tons | 1 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.54 | 1.9 | 42 |
| 2 in | 3.09 | 3.7 | 84 |
| 3 in | 4.63 | 5.6 | 125 |
| 4 in | 6.17 | 7.4 | 167 |
| 6 in | 9.26 | 11.1 | 250 |
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 1,500 Square Feet?
Choosing a 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
At 6.17 yards, bulk delivery is far cheaper and easier than bags. A cubic yard of bulk topsoil is the same as 27 one-cubic-foot bags. See how much a yard of topsoil covers.
Related: How Much Topsoil for 2,500 Square Feet?
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.
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.
Common mistakes
Buying by the bag for a large area is the classic error: dozens of bags cost far more than a bulk yard. Another is skipping compost or using unscreened soil full of clods and roots. Spreading soil when it is soaking wet compacts it and makes it hard for roots and water to move.
Questions people ask
How many yards of topsoil for 500 sq ft?
About 6.17 cubic yards at 4 inches deep.
How much topsoil for 500 sq ft at 2 inches?
About 3.09 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 300 Square Feet?
- How Much Topsoil for 400 Square Feet?
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