Purpose sets depth
2 in to top-dress a lawn, 4–6 in to build a bed, 6–12 in for raised beds.
topsoil calculator
Topsoil Calculator
Estimate how much topsoil you need to build a bed, level a yard, or start a new lawn. Enter the area and depth, and this calculator returns the volume in cubic yards, the number of 2-cubic-foot bags, and an approximate delivery weight — with an overage you control.
Quick answer
A 200 sq ft area at 4 in needs ~2.72 cu yd of topsoil — about 37 × 2-cu-ft bags (≈ 3.0 tons) — with 10% overage.
You order: 2.72 cubic yardsWeight varies with moisture
Enter your project
Build your estimate
Start with a preset
Live result
2.72 cubic yards
What you order
- Base volume2.47 cu yd
- Overage (10%)+0.25 cu yd
- Order volume2.72 cu yd
- Or 2-cu-ft bags37 × 2-cu-ft bags
- Approx delivery weight (moist)≈ 3.0 tons
Weight varies with moisture · confirm with your supplier
The model, unpacked
Scenario breakdown
200 sq ft area at 4 in
Base volume
2.47 cu yd
Overage (10%)
+0.25 cu yd
Order volume
2.72 cu yd
Or 2-cu-ft bags
37 × 2-cu-ft bags
Approx delivery weight (moist)
≈ 3.0 tons
You may also need
Materials for the same job
Planning a full project? Most jobs use more than one material. You will often pair sod, mulch and sand with topsoil on the same site.
Interpret the output
What makes this move?
A trustworthy estimate explains the levers behind the number. These are the factors that change how much you need to order.
Moisture changes weight
Wet topsoil can weigh 1.3 t/yd, so the delivery weight is an estimate, not a spec.
Settling and grading
Add overage; freshly placed soil settles after watering.
FAQ
Common questions
Straight answers about quantities, conversions, and how much to order — no lead-gen fog.
About 1.1 tons dry-to-moist, up to about 1.3 tons wet.