Topsoil Calculator for Cubic Yards, Tons and Cost
Size the topsoil for garden beds, lawn top-dressing, landscape projects and yard restorations — with cubic yards and cost output based on local delivered pricing.
Topsoil Calculator
Enter project dimensions below — results update instantly. Switch units freely.
Estimates assume typical industry density and waste factors. Always verify with your supplier and local building code before purchasing material.
Why Not All ‘Topsoil’ Is Equal
‘Topsoil’ is a market term, not a regulated specification. The same name covers products that range from garden-ready premium loam ($40/yd³) to unscreened excavation dirt ($8/yd³). The difference in plant performance is night and day.
Quality grades (good to poor):
- Premium garden soil — screened loam + compost + peat + sand, balanced pH, 40-50% organic matter. $35-55/yd³.
- Screened topsoil — local natural topsoil, run through 1/2-in screen to remove rocks and roots. 8-15% organic. $20-35/yd³.
- Unscreened topsoil — local topsoil as excavated. Contains rocks, clumps, debris. $10-20/yd³.
- Fill dirt labeled as topsoil — often subsoil or poor native soil. Little to no organic content. $6-15/yd³. Avoid for growing plants.
Ask the supplier: ‘What's the organic matter content?’ Anything under 5% is subsoil pretending to be topsoil. Premium garden soil runs 25-50% organic.
How Much to Order and How Deep to Apply
Topsoil density: 75-80 lb/ft³ loose. 1 cubic yard weighs ~2,025 lb = 1.01 tons.
Application depth by use:
- Lawn top-dressing — 1/4 to 1/2 inch; fills low spots, feeds grass. 0.02-0.04 yd³ per 100 ft².
- Over-seeding new lawn — 1/2 to 1 inch over seed. 0.04-0.08 yd³ per 100 ft².
- Garden bed establishment — 6 inches minimum over subsoil. 0.5 yd³ per 100 ft².
- Raised bed fill — full depth, typically 8-12 inches. 2.5-3.7 yd³ per 100 ft² at 8 inches.
- Tree installation — fill hole around root ball. Varies by tree size.
- Sodding prep — 2-4 inches tilled into existing soil. 0.6-1.2 yd³ per 100 ft².
Once the Topsoil Calculator result looks reasonable, cross-check the next job decision with the Fill Dirt Calculator and the Mulch Calculator. That keeps the quantity, cost, and field assumption tied together before you call a supplier.
For the broader project context: the cubic yards vs tons conversion guide covers material-specific density (the 1.4 t/yd³ vs 2.0 t/yd³ question), the crushed stone sizes guide walks the #57 / #67 / #8 gradations, and the gravel depth chart sets coverage by application. For a full cluster overview see the aggregate & base pillar.
What Most Online Calculators Get Wrong Reviewed by Ethan Walker, Senior Asphalt Estimator & Paving Consultant (22 yrs)
AI tools confuse topsoil with fill dirt. Four pitfalls AI summaries hide:
- Topsoil density 1.20–1.40 t/yd³ (lighter than mineral aggregates).
- Settlement 15–25% in first 6 months. Order extra.
- Quality varies 10×: $20/yd³ (construction debris) to $45/yd³ (screened loam).
- Topsoil for biology; fill dirt for structure. Never substitute.
This calculator outputs topsoil tonnage + settlement adjustment + quality grading reference + structural-vs-biological distinction. Topsoil is biology, not structure — the AI conflation with fill dirt is wrong.
Topsoil Coverage Table and Material Reference
| Use | Depth | yd³ per 100 ft² | yd³ per 1,000 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn top-dressing | 1/4 in | 0.08 | 0.77 |
| Grass over-seeding | 1/2 in | 0.15 | 1.54 |
| Lawn patch repair | 1 in | 0.31 | 3.09 |
| Sod prep | 3 in | 0.93 | 9.26 |
| New lawn installation | 4 in | 1.23 | 12.35 |
| Vegetable garden bed | 6 in | 1.85 | 18.52 |
| Perennial bed | 8 in | 2.47 | 24.69 |
| Raised bed (8×4 ft) | 12 in full | 1.19 yd³/bed | — |
| Trees (5-gal) | Per tree | ~0.1 yd³/tree | — |
| Trees (25-gal) | Per tree | ~0.3 yd³/tree | — |
Always top-dress with mulch after placing topsoil on beds — bare topsoil erodes quickly in rain.
| Grade | Organic Matter | Price/yd³ Delivered | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium garden mix | 25-50% | $45-65 | Raised beds, vegetable gardens |
| Screened topsoil | 8-15% | $28-42 | Lawn establishment, perennial beds |
| Topsoil-compost blend | 15-30% | $35-55 | Tree planting, general landscape |
| Basic topsoil (screened) | 5-10% | $22-35 | Grass seeding, lawn patches |
| Unscreened topsoil | 3-8% | $15-28 | Rough grading before sod |
| Fill dirt | <3% | $8-20 | Yard raising (not planting) |
Add $60-150 delivery per load on top of per-yard pricing. Loads are typically 10-12 cubic yards.
Real-World Example Calculations
Lawn Top-Dressing 5,000 ft² @ 1/2 in
Refresh existing lawn with screened topsoil and overseed.
- Area
- 5,000 ft²
- Depth
- 1/2 in
- $/yd³
- $32
Takeaway: Single small-truck delivery. Spread with shovel and rake or wheelbarrow. Overseed immediately before the topsoil settles.
Raised Bed 4 × 8 × 1 ft
New raised vegetable garden bed with premium soil mix.
- Length × Width
- 8 × 4 ft
- Depth
- 12 in
- $/yd³
- $55 (premium)
Takeaway: Order 1.5 yd³ (well above minimum delivery) to also refresh existing beds. Premium blend critical for root-crop success.
New Sod Prep 2,000 ft² @ 3 in
Ground prep before laying sod on a tilled yard.
- Area
- 2,000 ft²
- Depth
- 3 in
- $/yd³
- $28 (screened)
Takeaway: 2 truck deliveries. Till topsoil into existing 4 inches of native soil, then level with a lawn roller before sodding.
Sources & Standards
These references are used for terminology, safety boundaries, and engineering assumptions. Local code, supplier specifications, and licensed design documents still control your project.
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AASHTO T 19/T 19M-22 — Standard Method of Test for Bulk Density (‘Unit Weight’) and Voids in Aggregate
AASHTO
Cited for the bulk density (loose-rodded unit weight) basis of all aggregate tons-per-cubic-yard figures.
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ASTM C33/C33M-23 — Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates
ASTM International
Cited for fine and coarse aggregate gradation requirements (#57, #67, #8 stone) referenced in the size and use-case tables.
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ASTM D448-12(2017) — Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction
ASTM International
Cited for the standardized aggregate gradation numbers (#1 through #67) used by aggregate suppliers.
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AASHTO T 99-22 / T 180-22 — Standard Method of Test for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils Using a Standard Effort (Proctor)
AASHTO
Cited for the 95% Modified Proctor compaction standard used to derive the loose-to-compacted conversion factor.
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FHWA Geotechnical Engineering Program
Federal Highway Administration
Cited for subgrade preparation and compaction practice underlying the base-course quantity calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much topsoil do I need?
At 6-inch depth: 1.85 yd³ per 100 ft² of garden bed. For lawn top-dressing at 1/2 in: 0.15 yd³ per 100 ft². For a 20 × 30 ft (600 ft²) new garden at 6 in: 11 cubic yards.
How much does topsoil cost per yard?
In 2026, delivered: $22-65 per cubic yard depending on quality. Basic screened topsoil $22-35; premium garden mix $45-65. Unscreened excavation dirt mislabeled as topsoil $8-20. Bagged topsoil at stores runs ~$3-4 per 40-lb bag (~$120 per equivalent yard).
How many cubic yards in a ton of topsoil?
At typical 75-80 lb/ft³ density: 1 ton = 0.99 yd³ (essentially 1:1). This is why topsoil is sometimes sold interchangeably by weight or by volume. Confirm pricing units before ordering.
How deep should topsoil be for a lawn?
For new lawn installation: 4-6 inches of screened topsoil over compacted subgrade. For over-seeding existing lawn: 1/2 inch top-dress. Too thin and grass struggles; too deep and seedlings can't reach mineral soil for nutrients.
Can I just use fill dirt as topsoil?
No — fill dirt typically lacks the organic matter plants need. Fill dirt is for structural grading (raising levels before final landscape finish). Always cap fill dirt with 4-6 inches of real topsoil for any planted surface.
What is screened topsoil?
Topsoil run through a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch screen to remove rocks, roots, and debris. Makes the material much easier to work with and produces uniform beds. Costs 30-50% more than unscreened, but saves significant hand-labor removing junk.
How much topsoil for a raised garden bed?
Standard 4 × 8 × 1 ft raised bed: 1.19 yd³. For best results, mix 60% screened topsoil + 30% compost + 10% sand. Many suppliers sell a pre-blended ‘raised bed mix’ for this ratio.