How Much Topsoil for Raised Beds?
Four 4ร8 ft raised beds at 12 inches deep hold 128 sq ft of soil โ 4.7 finished yards, 5.4 loose yards with settling, about 6.8 tons delivered. This guide covers the volume plus the settling nobody budgets, and which mix actually grows vegetables.
Step-by-Step Takeoff
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1
Bed area: 4 beds ร 4 ร 8 = 128 sq ft at 12 in deep.
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2
Finished: 128 ร 12 รท 324 = 4.7 cu yd.
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3
Loose: 4.7 ร 1.15 settling = 5.4 yards; tons โ 5.4 ร 1.25 = 6.8.
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4
Order 5.5 yards of garden mix (not plain fill) for planting beds.
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5
Fill in 6-in lifts, water each lift to settle, and top off after two weeks.
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6
Adjust settling for compost blends in the Topsoil Calculator.
Guide FAQ
Topsoil or garden mix?
Garden mix (soil + compost) for planting; plain screened topsoil for filling and grading.
Will it settle?
Yes โ 10โ25% in the first season. Order loose yards, not finished yards.
How deep for raised vegetable beds?
12 inches minimum; 18โ24 inches for carrots and deep-rooted crops.
How many bags equals a yard?
About 27 one-cubic-foot bags โ bulk delivery wins past 2 yards.
Do I need landscape fabric under beds?
Only against aggressive weeds; hardware cloth if gophers are a problem.
Related Guides
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Cubic yards vs bags, mulch depth, and bulk-vs-bag breakpoint for 100-300 sq ft of beds.
How Much Sod for a 1,000 sq ft Lawn?
Pallet math, waste, delivery timing, and install-day plan for a 1,000 sq ft front lawn.
How Much Gravel for a Driveway?
Cubic yards, tons, delivery cost, and base depth for a 20x40 ft driveway at 4 inches deep.