{
  "slug": "topsoil",
  "title": "Topsoil Calculator",
  "heading": "Topsoil Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/topsoil",
  "summary": "Cubic yards and tons of soil for a garden or lawn.",
  "description": "Screened topsoil weighs roughly 1.1 tons per cubic yard dry and considerably more when wet, which matters if your supplier sells by weight.",
  "formula": "Cubic yards = Area × Depth (ft) ÷ 27.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=topsoil",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "area",
      "label": "Area",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 600,
      "unit": "sq ft",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "depth",
      "label": "Depth",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4,
      "unit": "in",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Price per cubic yard",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 38,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "yards",
      "label": "Cubic yards",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tons",
      "label": "Approximate tons",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cost",
      "label": "Estimated cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cuft",
      "label": "Cubic feet",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Area: 600 sq ft",
      "Depth: 4 in",
      "Price per cubic yard: 38 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Cubic yards: 7.41",
      "Approximate tons: 8.15",
      "Estimated cost: $281.48",
      "Cubic feet: 200"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter area (sq ft).",
      "Enter depth (in).",
      "Enter price per cubic yard ($).",
      "Read your cubic yards on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "area": 360,
        "depth": 2.4,
        "price": 23
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "area": 600,
        "depth": 4,
        "price": 38
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "area": 960,
        "depth": 6.4,
        "price": 61
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the topsoil calculator work?",
      "a": "Screened topsoil weighs roughly 1.1 tons per cubic yard dry and considerably more when wet, which matters if your supplier sells by weight. The underlying maths is: Cubic yards = Area × Depth (ft) ÷ 27."
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "3 values: area, depth, and price per cubic yard. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the cubic yards result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mulch",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sod",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Topsoil Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/topsoil)"
}