How deep should topsoil be?

It depends on the job. For a new or amended planting bed, work in 4–6 inches. To topdress a lawn, spread only ¼–½ inch per pass — never more than about an inch, or you'll smother the grass. To fill a raised bed, use 10–12 inches (usually a topsoil/compost blend rather than pure topsoil).

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

Roughly 1.1–1.3 tons (2,200–2,600 lb) dry, and more when wet or high in clay; this calculator uses about 1.2 tons per cubic yard. Bagged topsoil is screened and drier, so it weighs less per cubic foot than bulk — the bag count and the bulk tonnage won't multiply out to the same weight, and that's expected. Confirm density with your supplier.

Should I buy bags or bulk?

For more than about a cubic yard (≈36 of the 0.75-cu-ft bags), bulk delivery is usually cheaper and easier; below that, bags are simpler. The bag count here rounds up to whole bags.

Topsoil Calculator

Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard or ton in bulk and by the bag at the store. Measure your bed, pick a depth, and this works out how much you need.

Cubic yards

1.85cu yd

Tons (approx): 2.22 tons
Cubic feet: 50 cu ft
Bags (0.75 cu ft): 67 bags

Topsoil for common areas

Worked out with this calculator. Tons use about 1.2 tons per cubic yard (topsoil runs roughly 1.1–1.3, heavier when wet). Bags are 0.75 cu ft, rounded up.

Area and depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx)	0.75 cu ft bags
100 sq ft at 4 in	1.23	1.48	45
100 sq ft at 6 in	1.85	2.22	67
200 sq ft at 4 in	2.47	2.96	89
200 sq ft at 6 in	3.7	4.44	134
500 sq ft at 4 in	6.17	7.41	223
500 sq ft at 6 in	9.26	11.11	334
1,000 sq ft at ½ in (lawn topdress)	1.54	1.85	56

How these numbers are worked out

The formula

Volume = area × depth. Area is length × width; multiply by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.2 (topsoil is roughly 1.1–1.3 tons per cubic yard, heavier when wet). Bags = cubic feet ÷ the bag's size, rounded up.

Constants and sources

Coverage geometry: 1 cu yd = 27 cu ft. Topsoil density ≈1.1–1.3 tons/cu yd (moisture- and composition-dependent; ~1.2 used). Bag volume varies by product (~0.75 cu ft common) — verify.

How it was checked

Last reviewed June 16, 2026. Before this calculator was published, its formula, constants and worked example were checked in a separate, AI-assisted review that redid the arithmetic and tested the factual claims; the site owner then approved it for publishing. No engineer or tradesperson reviews these pages. Where a figure depends on the product (a density, a coverage rate, a bag size), it is either an input you can change above or a fixed planning value stated on this page, so check it against your product's label or your supplier.

Spot a wrong number or an outdated figure? Send a correction.

Worked example

A 10 ft × 10 ft bed, 6 inches deep: 100 sq ft × (6 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 1.85 cubic yards (~2.2 tons). In 0.75-cu-ft bags: 50 ÷ 0.75 = 67 bags.

FAQs

How deep should topsoil be?: It depends on the job. For a new or amended planting bed, work in 4–6 inches. To topdress a lawn, spread only ¼–½ inch per pass — never more than about an inch, or you'll smother the grass. To fill a raised bed, use 10–12 inches (usually a topsoil/compost blend rather than pure topsoil).
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?: Roughly 1.1–1.3 tons (2,200–2,600 lb) dry, and more when wet or high in clay; this calculator uses about 1.2 tons per cubic yard. Bagged topsoil is screened and drier, so it weighs less per cubic foot than bulk — the bag count and the bulk tonnage won't multiply out to the same weight, and that's expected. Confirm density with your supplier.
Should I buy bags or bulk?: For more than about a cubic yard (≈36 of the 0.75-cu-ft bags), bulk delivery is usually cheaper and easier; below that, bags are simpler. The bag count here rounds up to whole bags.