How Much Topsoil Do I Need?
How much topsoil you need is your area times the depth, in cubic yards or bags. To add 3 inches over a 100 square foot bed, you need about 0.93 cubic yards, or roughly 19 of the 40-pound bags. The table below covers common sizes, and the calculator works out your exact amount from your area and target depth.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.85 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 3.70 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 | 4.63 | 9.26 |
| 1000 sq ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 18.52 |
Get your exact number
Calculate your exact amount with the topsoil calculatorHow Do You Calculate Topsoil Needed?
To calculate topsoil, multiply the area by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 200 square foot bed at 3 inches deep is 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards. Bagged topsoil comes in 40-pound bags holding about 0.75 cubic feet, so about 36 bags make a yard. For a new lawn or large beds, bulk delivery by the yard is far cheaper than bags. The calculator gives both.
How Much Topsoil for a New Lawn?
For a new lawn, add 4 to 6 inches of topsoil for healthy root growth, or 2 inches if you are topping up an existing lawn before seeding. A 1000 square foot lawn at 4 inches needs about 12.3 cubic yards. That much soil is always ordered in bulk by the yard. The calculator sizes it from your area and depth, and remember topsoil settles, so order a little extra.
Frequently asked questions
- How much topsoil do I need for 100 square feet?
- To add 3 inches over 100 square feet, you need about 0.93 cubic yards, or roughly 19 of the 40-pound bags.
- How much topsoil for a new lawn?
- 4 to 6 inches for a new lawn, or 2 inches for topping up before seeding. A 1000 square foot lawn at 4 inches needs about 12.3 cubic yards.
- How many bags of topsoil in a yard?
- About 36 of the 40-pound bags make one cubic yard of topsoil.