Gravel Cost Calculator

Topsoil Calculator

Estimate how many cubic yards of topsoil you need to fill a garden bed, raised bed, or level a section of lawn.

Pick the shape that best matches your bed or the area you're leveling.

ft
ft
in

New garden beds typically use 6–12 in of topsoil.

Covers settling and uneven grading. 10% works for most beds and lawns.

How this is calculated

Area is calculated from the shape you select — rectangle (length × width), circle (π × radius²), triangle (½ × base × height), circular ring (π × (outer radius² − inner radius²)), or trapezoid (average of the two parallel sides × width). That area is multiplied by depth to get the exact volume required, converted from cubic feet to cubic yards (27 ft³ per yd³). Your selected waste percentage is added to cover settling and uneven grading, and weight is calculated from that same waste-adjusted volume — approximately 2,200 lb per cubic yard for moist, screened topsoil (actual density varies with moisture content and soil composition). The suggested order then rounds the waste-adjusted volume up to the nearest 0.1 yd³ since most suppliers sell topsoil by the yard.

Example calculation

A 12 ft × 6 ft raised bed area at 6 in deep needs 1.33 yd³ of topsoil. With 10% waste that's 1.47 yd³ — about 1.61 tons — so suggested order is 1.5 yd³.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Use the "Bed shape" dropdown to switch to circle, triangle, circular ring, or trapezoid. Each shape shows the measurements it needs and the area formula used is shown in the breakdown.