Enter your address to get started
Free estimator
Soil Calculator
Work out how much soil it takes to fill garden beds, raised beds, and new planting areas. Enter each bed, set the depth, and the calculator totals the cubic yards to order.
Soil Calculator
How would you like to estimate?
Choose the method that works best for your project
New
Trace from Satellite
Draw shapes on aerial view of your property
Manual Dimensions
Enter length and width measurements directly
All estimates are approximate and should be verified before purchase.
How Deep to Spread Soil
- Refreshing existing beds
- 2 to 3 inches
- New flower and shrub beds
- 6 to 8 inches
- Vegetable gardens
- 8 to 12 inches
- Raised beds
- the full height of the bed
What One Yard of Soil Covers
- 3 inches deep
- about 108 sq ft per cubic yard
- 6 inches deep
- about 54 sq ft per cubic yard
- 12 inches deep
- about 27 sq ft per cubic yard
Getting the Soil Estimate Right
Raised beds need more than you think
A single 4 by 8 foot raised bed that is 12 inches deep holds about 1.2 cubic yards of soil. Beds also settle 1 to 2 inches in the first season, so fill them slightly above the rim.
Which soil to order
Garden soil, a blend of topsoil and compost, is ready to plant into. Raised bed mixes are lighter and hold more organic matter so they stay loose in a box. Plain topsoil is better for lawns and grading than for beds.
Soil Calculator Questions
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 4 by 8 foot bed that is 1 foot deep needs about 1.2 cubic yards.
How many bags of soil equal a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet or 14 bags of 2 cubic feet. Bulk delivery is usually far cheaper past a yard or two.
How deep should soil be for a vegetable garden?
At least 8 inches of loose soil, and 12 inches for root crops like carrots and potatoes.