Topsoil Calculator
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Topsoil is the fertile upper soil layer used to grow things - leveling lawns, filling garden beds and raised beds. It's sold screened (sifted, ready to plant) or unscreened (cheaper, with debris), and is usually ordered by the cubic yard.
Area preview
Weight
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Volume
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Bags needed
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Area: -
💡 Order about 10% extra - settling and spills eat into every load.
⚠️ Enter the full depth - a thin layer scatters and sinks.
What topsoil is best for
- Leveling and top-dressing lawns
- Filling garden beds
- Filling raised beds and planters
- Regrading low spots
How much topsoil do you need?
2–4 in (5–10 cm) to top-dress or level a lawn; 6–12 in (15–30 cm) to fill a raised bed. For new beds, mix in compost rather than using topsoil alone.
Topsoil is lighter than stone - about 1.3 t/m³ (roughly 1.1 tons per cubic yard) - and lighter still when dry, heavier when wet. The calculator reports volume (what suppliers sell by) plus an approximate weight.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need?
- Multiply area by the depth you want. The calculator returns the volume in cubic yards (how topsoil is usually sold) along with an approximate weight.
- Screened vs unscreened topsoil - which do I need?
- Screened topsoil is sifted and ready for lawns and beds; unscreened is cheaper but contains rocks and debris, better for bulk fill and regrading.
- How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
- Aim for 4–6 in (10–15 cm) of good topsoil for healthy grass roots; 2–4 in is enough to top-dress an existing lawn.