Soil Calculator: How Much Garden Soil Do I Need?
Whether you are filling a bed, levelling a lawn or laying a path base, the first questions are how much and how heavy. Weight matters for car loads, trailers and delivery prices.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored.
What this calculator does
Enter the area, depth and material. The calculator gives the volume, weight, bags and truck loads.
How to use the soil calculator
- Enter length, width and depth.
- Choose a material or enter its density.
- Add 10–20% for settling.
- Enter bag and truck sizes.
- Compare bag and bulk prices.
How the calculation works
volume = length × width × depth × (1 + extra) weight = volume × bulk density bags = ceil(volume ÷ bag size) loads = ceil(volume ÷ truck size)
Bulk density links volume to weight; damp materials are heavier.
Worked example
A 5 × 3 m area at 15 cm deep needs 2.48 m³ of topsoil with 10% extra, weighing about 3.2 t: 62 bags of 40 L or one truck load.
Assumptions and limitations
- Densities are typical and vary with moisture.
- Check vehicle and trailer weight limits before collecting.
- Delivery minimums may apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
Roughly 1,900–2,700 lb (0.9–1.2 US tons) depending on soil type and moisture.
How much soil do I need for a 10x10 garden?
At 6 inches deep, about 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards.
How many bags of soil in a cubic yard?
About 27 bags of 1 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
Is bulk soil cheaper than bags?
Usually, for anything over about 1 m³ (1.3 cu yd).
How do I calculate how much soil I need?
Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) for cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Is a bulk soil calculator different from a bag calculator?
No: both start from the same volume. Bulk soil is sold by the cubic yard or m³, bags by cubic feet or litres.