Soil Calculator

A soil calculator determines the volume, weight, and cost of soil, topsoil, compost, or fill dirt needed for a landscaping or construction project. Whether you are filling a garden bed, leveling a yard, or preparing a construction site, knowing the exact amount of soil required prevents over-ordering (which wastes money) or under-ordering (which causes delays and additional delivery fees).

The calculator computes the area based on the shape of the project — rectangle, circle, triangle, or raised bed — multiplies by the desired depth, and converts the volume from cubic feet to cubic yards (the standard unit for bulk soil delivery). It then applies the density of the selected soil type to determine the total weight in pounds and tons. Bag equivalents are also calculated for projects where bulk delivery is not practical.

Soil density varies significantly by type. Topsoil weighs approximately 2,000 pounds per cubic yard, while compost is much lighter at around 1,400 pounds per cubic yard, and peat moss is only about 400 pounds per cubic yard. These differences affect both the weight of the delivery and the cost, since some materials are sold by weight and others by volume. The calculator accounts for these variations and provides cost comparisons between bulk delivery and bagged options.

The volume of soil needed is the area of the project multiplied by the depth of soil required. The area depends on the shape selected, and the depth is typically specified in inches and converted to feet for the calculation. The result is converted from cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27.

Understanding soil density helps you estimate the weight of your delivery and choose the right material for your project:

Follow these steps to calculate the soil needed for your project:

1. Select Unit System: Choose feet or meters for your measurements.
2. Choose Area Shape: Select rectangle, circle, triangle, or raised bed depending on your project.
3. Enter Dimensions: Input the length and width (or radius for circles, base and height for triangles).
4. Set Soil Depth: Use the slider or enter the desired depth in inches. Recommended depths are 6 inches for lawns, 8–12 inches for gardens, and 12–18 inches for raised beds.
5. Select Soil Type: Choose from topsoil, garden mix, compost, potting mix, fill dirt, sandy soil, clay soil, or peat moss.
6. Enter Price per Cubic Yard: Input the bulk delivery price in your area for a cost estimate.
7. Review Results: The calculator displays volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters, weight in pounds and tons, bag equivalents, and a cost comparison between bulk and bagged options.

Raised beds require a different approach than in-ground gardens. The calculator provides a recommended soil mix for raised beds, splitting the volume equally between two layers. The bottom 50 percent should be filled with an inexpensive fill material such as compost, native soil, or a mix of the two. The top 50 percent should be a high-quality garden mix or potting soil that provides the nutrients and drainage that plants need to thrive.

This layered approach reduces the cost of filling a raised bed (which can be expensive if using only premium garden soil) while still providing an excellent growing environment for plant roots. For raised beds deeper than 18 inches, consider adding a layer of coarse material at the very bottom to promote drainage before adding the fill and garden mix layers above.

Soil calculations are essential for a wide range of construction and landscaping projects. A typical residential lawn renovation might require 10 to 30 cubic yards of topsoil, while a large garden project could need 5 to 15 cubic yards of garden mix. Fill dirt for grading and leveling is often ordered in larger quantities, sometimes 50 cubic yards or more for site preparation work.

Bulk soil delivery is significantly cheaper per cubic yard than bagged soil. For projects requiring more than 3 cubic yards, bulk delivery is almost always more economical. The calculator provides a cost comparison so you can make an informed decision. For very large projects, multiple delivery trucks may be needed, and coordinating the timing of deliveries with the construction schedule is important to avoid double-handling of the material.