🪴Topsoil Calculator PRO
Loose yards and tons with settling — gardens, lawns, raised beds.
Dimension Diagram — updates as you type
Order loose yards, not finished yards — soil consolidates 10–25% in the first season.
1 Area, Depth & Settling
15% settling is typical for loose screened soil; up to 25% for compost blends.
2 Pricing & Labour
Results
Material Quantities
Cost Breakdown
⚠️ Pre-Export Checklist
- Raised beds measured inside the frame
- Settling allowance set for soil type
- Correct product priced (screened vs mix vs fill)
- Delivery access confirmed (tailgate or wheelbarrow)
How to Calculate Topsoil Needed
Show formula and worked example ▼
Formula
Finished yards= Area × Depth ÷ 324
Loose yards= Finished × (1 + settling)
Tons≈ Loose yards × 1.25
Worked Example
200 sq ft at 6 in, 15% settling: 3.7 finished yards → 4.5 loose yards (rounded up to the half-yard) ≈ 5.6 tons.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ordering finished yards (finishes an inch low)
- Pricing generic "dirt" instead of the exact product
- No delivery access plan for fenced yards
- Spreading over unprepared compacted grade
Drag to rotate — Scroll to zoom
Calculadoras Relacionadas
Frequently used together on the same project.
Client & Quote (prints on PDF & Excel)
Adjustments (applies to exports)
Contingency is added as a separate line on the exported cost summary. Waste % is printed as an advisory reminder.
Project notes (prints on PDF & Excel)
Result compare (A/B)
| Item | Pinned | Current | Change |
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Saved rates auto-apply from your Price Library. Advanced details stay in your browser — nothing is uploaded except inside your own PDF/Excel exports.
Topsoil settles, compacts, and disappears into existing grade — which is why garden beds ordered "exact" always end up short. Our free topsoil calculator converts area and depth into cubic yards and tons, then adds a settling allowance so the finished grade lands where you planned it.
Enter the area in square feet and the depth in inches, pick screened soil, garden mix, or fill dirt behavior via the settling percentage (15 percent is typical for loose screened soil), and add your price per cubic yard. Results show loose cubic yards to order, approximate tons at about 1.25 tons per yard, and total cost.
📖 Cómo Usar Esta Calculadora
Step 1: Measure the Area
Measure bed or lawn area in square feet. For raised beds, use the inside dimensions of the frame.
Step 2: Set Depth and Settling
Enter target finished depth in inches plus a settling allowance — 15 percent for screened soil, up to 25 for fluffy compost blends.
Step 3: Price It
Enter bulk price per cubic yard from local suppliers. Screened topsoil and garden mix price differently — confirm which you are ordering.
Step 4: Order Loose Yards
Order the loose-yard figure, not the finished figure. Soil consolidates under rain and foot traffic within weeks.
📐 Cómo Se Calculan Volumen y Toneladas
Finished volume is area × depth ÷ 324 cubic yards. Loose order volume multiplies by 1 plus settling: loose yards = finished × 1.15 at default settling. Tons use roughly 1.25 tons per cubic yard for moist screened soil. A 200 sq ft bed at 6 inches needs 3.7 finished yards, 4.3 loose yards, about 5.3 tons.
⚠️ Errores Comunes a Evitar
Ordering finished yards
✓ Loose soil settles 15 percent or more. Order the loose figure or the bed finishes an inch low everywhere.
Confusing soil types
✓ Screened topsoil, garden mix, and fill dirt differ in price, weight, and fertility. Price the exact product, not "dirt" generically.
Ignoring delivery access
✓ A tri-axle cannot reach a fenced backyard. Confirm tailgate spread or wheelbarrow access before the truck arrives.
Spreading on unprepared grade
✓ Rough up compacted subgrade first or the new soil shears off in heavy rain.
💡 Consejos Profesionales
Test pH and texture before amending — a $20 soil test beats $200 of wrong compost.
Crown lawn areas slightly; settlement always finds the low spot.
Mix compost into the top 4 inches rather than layering it — roots cross interfaces poorly.
Order in fall when suppliers discount bulk soil before winter.
❓ Preguntas Frecuentes
32 sq ft × 12 in ÷ 324 = 1.19 finished yards. With 15 percent settling, order 1.4 yards — about 1.7 tons.
Roughly 1 to 1.5 tons depending on moisture. Use 1.25 tons per yard for budgeting unless your supplier quotes otherwise.
Topsoil is screened native soil for filling and grading. Garden mix blends soil with compost for planting beds. Mix costs more and settles more.
Yes — 10 to 25 percent in the first season. The calculator adds a default 15 percent settling allowance you can adjust.
🏗️ Aplicaciones Reales
Topsoil estimates cover vegetable gardens, raised beds, lawn leveling, new-lawn bases, and grade corrections around foundations. Market gardeners ordering 20-yard loads care about the per-yard price; homeowners care about the bag-vs-bulk breakpoint for small beds. Anytime soil moves, this math moves first.
Our free topsoil calculator converts garden and lawn area into loose cubic yards and tons with settling allowance. Use it for raised beds, lawn leveling, new lawns, and grading with screened soil or garden mix. Enter area, depth, and settling for an instant order quantity.
✅Method, Sources & Review
Maintained by theBuildingCalc methods desk· Last reviewedSeptember 23, 2026. This calculator implements the standards and references below; every figure can be rechecked against the formulas and worked example on this page.
Results are estimates, not engineering advice. Verify against local codes and licensed professionals for structural, electrical, and gas work. See ourTerms. Spotted an error? Report it— corrections ship with the next review.