1. How do you calculate soil in cubic yards?
Calculating the amount of soil, compost, or potting mix needed for a landscaping project requires finding the 3D volume of your garden bed. To find the volume in cubic yards:
- Step 1: Find the Surface Area (Length in feet × Width in feet).
- Step 2: Convert your desired depth from inches to feet (e.g., 6 inches ÷ 12 = 0.5 feet).
- Step 3: Multiply the Area by the Depth to get Cubic Feet.
- Step 4: Divide the Cubic Feet by 27 to get Cubic Yards (since 3' x 3' x 3' = 27 ft³).
2. Bags vs. Bulk Delivery
Depending on the size of your project, you will either buy individual bags or order a bulk delivery from a landscaping yard.
- Standard Bags: In the US, topsoil and compost are typically sold in 1 or 2 cubic foot bags. It takes exactly 27 bags (of 1 cu ft size) to equal 1 cubic yard.
- Bulk Delivery: Sold by the "scoop" or cubic yard. Bulk is significantly cheaper per yard, but often incurs a flat-rate delivery fee. Use the calculator to compare the cost of buying 40 bags vs ordering 2 yards bulk.
3. How deep should the soil be?
For raised beds, a depth of 8 to 12 inches is recommended for most vegetables and flowers. If you are just top-dressing an existing lawn, 1 to 2 inches is usually sufficient.
4. Estimating Weight
If you are picking up bulk soil in a pickup truck, weight matters. Overloading can damage your suspension. Topsoil is very heavy (approx. 2,000 lbs per cubic yard), especially when wet. Potting soil is much lighter (approx. 800 lbs per cubic yard). Our calculator uses standard material densities to give you a safe hauling estimate in tons.