Topsoil and dirt calculator
Figure out how much topsoil or fill dirt to order for a lawn, garden bed, grading job or the edges of a new driveway. Results come in cubic yards, tons and bags.
How to work out topsoil and dirt
Soil yards sell by the cubic yard more often than by the ton, so the price menu starts on cubic yard. The calculator multiplies area by depth, divides by 27 for cubic yards, and then converts to tons using the soil type you picked so you can check truck weight limits. Bag counts are by volume because bagged soil is labelled in cubic feet, not pounds.
Soil weight swings more than stone. Water is heavy, and a damp yard of topsoil can weigh a fifth more than the same yard dry. Clay is denser still. If you are hauling it yourself, plan around the heavier number.
Typical depths
- Overseeding or top-dressing a lawn: ¼–½ inch.
- New lawn on poor ground: 4–6 inches of topsoil.
- Raised or new garden beds: 8–12 inches of garden mix.
- Backfilling beside a driveway or patio: match the slab or pavement thickness, then add an inch for settling.
- Raising a low area: use fill dirt for the bulk and finish with 2–4 inches of topsoil, running the calculator for each layer.
Loose soil settles after watering and rain. Add 10–20% if you need a finished grade, not just a filled hole.
Related guides
Fill dirt vs topsoil · How much a yard of topsoil covers · Bags of topsoil in a yard · How much a yard of dirt weighs · Topsoil under a new driveway. Building a driveway? Use the gravel calculator for the stone layers.
Topsoil FAQ
How much does a yard of topsoil cover?
At 1 inch deep a cubic yard covers about 324 square feet. At 3 inches it covers about 108 square feet, and at 6 inches about 54.
How many bags of topsoil equal a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet or 27 bags of 1 cubic foot.
How heavy is a yard of dirt?
Plan on about 1 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard. Dry screened topsoil is at the light end, wet soil and clay at the heavy end.
Can fill dirt go under a driveway?
Fill dirt can raise the grade, but organic topsoil should not stay under a driveway because it compresses and holds water. Compacted stone base goes on top of firm subgrade.
Why order extra topsoil?
Fresh soil settles as it is watered and walked on, often by an inch or more. A 10–20% allowance keeps you from coming up short at the finished grade.