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Generated on: July 20, 2026 at 09:33 PM

Topsoil & Garden Soil Volume

Inputs

Length6 m
Width3 m
Depth10 cm
Soil typeScreened topsoil (≈1.3 t/m³)

This is an estimate based on typical loose bulk densities. Actual quantities vary with soil moisture, organic content, and how much the material settles once spread. Bulk densities range roughly 1.1–1.5 tonnes per cubic metre depending on the blend. Order a little extra to allow for settling and uneven ground.

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Construction & DIY

Topsoil & Garden Soil Volume

Work out how much topsoil or garden soil is needed to fill a bed, border, or lawn area to a chosen depth — in cubic yards or cubic metres, plus weight and 40 lb bag counts.

Inputs

Area & Soil

Results

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Soil Required

Details

V = L \times W \times D = (6\,\text{m}) \times (3\,\text{m}) \times (10\,\text{cm}) = ?\,\text{m³}

A 6 m × 3 m area filled to 10 cm needs about ... of soil, weighing roughly ... — around ... forty-pound bags.

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Topsoil & Garden Soil Volume

Filling a bed, levelling a lawn, or topping up a border all come down to one question: how much soil does the space actually hold? The answer is a volume — length times width times depth — which then converts into the cubic yards a supplier delivers, the weight a bulk load represents, or the number of bags to load into the car.

The volume method

Multiply the three dimensions, keeping them in the same length unit so the result lands in cubic metres. Depth is usually the odd one out, measured in centimetres, so convert it to metres first:

volume (m3)=length (m)×width (m)×depth (m)\begin{aligned} \text{volume (m}^3\text{)} &= \text{length (m)} \times \text{width (m)} \times \text{depth (m)} \end{aligned}

To turn that into a weight, multiply by the soil's bulk density in tonnes per cubic metre. Multiplying by 1000 gives kilograms:

weight (kg)=volume (m3)×density (t/m3)×1000\begin{aligned} \text{weight (kg)} &= \text{volume (m}^3\text{)} \times \text{density (t/m}^3\text{)} \times 1000 \end{aligned}

Screened topsoil is roughly 1.3 t/m³, a garden blend nearer 1.2, a compost-rich mix around 1.1, and a sandy topsoil closer to 1.4. Moisture and organic content shift these figures, so treat the weight as a close estimate.

Multiply the three dimensions in feet, then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet into the cubic yards suppliers sell by (a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet). Depth is usually given in inches, so divide it by 12 to reach feet first:

volume (cu yd)=length (ft)×width (ft)×depth (ft)27\begin{aligned} \text{volume (cu yd)} &= \frac{\text{length (ft)} \times \text{width (ft)} \times \text{depth (ft)}}{27} \end{aligned}

To turn that into a weight, multiply by the soil's bulk density in pounds per cubic yard:

weight (lb)=volume (cu yd)×density (lb/cu yd)\begin{aligned} \text{weight (lb)} &= \text{volume (cu yd)} \times \text{density (lb/cu yd)} \end{aligned}

Screened topsoil is roughly 2200 lb/cu yd, a garden blend nearer 2000, a compost-rich mix around 1850, and a sandy topsoil closer to 2360. Moisture and organic content shift these figures, so treat the weight as a close estimate.

Worked example

A 6 m × 3 m bed to be topped up with 10 cm of screened topsoil:

volume=6×3×0.1=1.8 m3weight=1.8×1.3×1000=2340 kg\begin{aligned} \text{volume} &= 6 \times 3 \times 0.1 = 1.8 \text{ m}^3 \\ \text{weight} &= 1.8 \times 1.3 \times 1000 = 2340 \text{ kg} \end{aligned}

So the bed needs about 1.8 cubic metres of soil — roughly 2.35 cubic yards if ordering from a yard that sells by the yard — weighing a little over 2.3 tonnes.

A 20 ft × 10 ft bed to be topped up with 4 inch of screened topsoil:

volume=20×10×0.3327=2.4 cu ydweight=2.4×2200=5280 lb\begin{aligned} \text{volume} &= \frac{20 \times 10 \times 0.33}{27} = 2.4 \text{ cu yd} \\ \text{weight} &= 2.4 \times 2200 = 5280 \text{ lb} \end{aligned}

So the bed needs about 2.4 cubic yards of soil, weighing roughly 5300 lb, or a little over two and a half tons.

Cubic yards, bags, or bulk

Bulk topsoil is sold by the cubic yard and delivered loose, which is by far the cheapest way to buy once a project passes a cubic yard or so. Bagged soil is easier to carry and store, but each 40 lb bag holds only about 0.75 cubic feet, so it takes roughly 36 bags to match a single cubic yard. For anything larger than a couple of raised beds, a bulk load nearly always wins on both price and effort; bags make sense for topping up pots or patching a small strip of lawn.

Order a little extra

Loose soil settles once it is spread, raked, watered, and walked on, so the finished depth ends up shallower than the loose volume delivered. For beds and lawns that will be firmed down, adding about 10–20 percent is a sensible margin. Freshly delivered soil is also fluffier than the same soil after a few weeks of rain, so a small surplus beats coming up short and paying for a second delivery. Loose soil settles once it is spread, raked, watered, and walked on, so the finished depth ends up shallower than the loose volume delivered. For beds and lawns that will be firmed down, adding about 10–20 percent is a sensible margin. Freshly delivered soil is also fluffier than the same soil after a few weeks of rain, so a small surplus beats coming up short and paying for a second delivery.

For related landscaping projects, see the Gravel Calculator and the Mulch & Garden Soil Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much topsoil do I need?

Measure the length and width of the area and decide how deep a layer you want. Multiply length (m) by width (m) by depth (m) to get the volume in cubic metres. For example, a 6 m × 3 m bed at 10 cm (0.1 m) deep needs 6 × 3 × 0.1 = 1.8 m³ of soil. Bulk soil is then sold by volume or weight, so multiply by the bulk density to get the tonnage.

Measure the length and width of the area and decide how deep a layer you want. Multiply length (ft) by width (ft) by depth (ft) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. For example, a 20 ft × 10 ft bed at 4 in (0.33 ft) deep needs about 66 cubic feet, or roughly 2.4 cubic yards. Bulk soil is sold by the cubic yard or by weight.

How do I convert topsoil volume to cubic yards?

Bulk topsoil is often sold by the cubic yard even where metric units are standard. One cubic yard equals about 0.765 cubic metres, so divide a volume in cubic metres by 0.765 to get cubic yards. For example, 1.8 m³ is about 2.35 cubic yards. Suppliers deliver in loads of one cubic yard or more, so round up to whole loads when ordering.

Divide the volume in cubic feet by 27, since a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. For example, 66 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 2.4 cubic yards. Suppliers deliver topsoil in loads of one cubic yard or more, so round up to whole loads when placing an order.

Should I order extra for settling and compaction?

Yes. Loose soil settles once it is spread, watered, and walked on, so the finished depth is a little less than the loose volume you order. For beds and lawns that will be firmed down, ordering about 10–20 percent extra is a sensible margin. Freshly delivered soil is also fluffier than the same soil after a few weeks of rain, so a small surplus avoids a second delivery.

Disclaimer

This is an estimate based on typical loose bulk densities. Actual quantities vary with soil moisture, organic content, and how much the material settles once spread. Bulk densities range roughly 1.1–1.5 tonnes per cubic metre depending on the blend. Order a little extra to allow for settling and uneven ground.

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