Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Topsoil to order
2.84
cu yd
Raw volume (no settling)
2.47
Total cubic feet
66.7
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter area (sq ft).
- 2Enter fill depth (in).
- 3Enter settling allowance (%).
- 4Read your topsoil to order on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Topsoil for a new garden bed, raised bed fill, or lawn leveling job is sold by the cubic yard, and getting the volume right matters because topsoil delivery minimums and per-yard pricing make both under- and over-ordering costly. This calculator takes your area and desired fill depth, converts to cubic feet, divides by 27 to get cubic yards, and adds a settling allowance since loose delivered topsoil compacts by 10-20% once watered in and settled, meaning the fluffy pile dropped in your driveway will end up shorter than it looked. For raised beds, a common approach is planning 8-12 inches of quality topsoil/compost blend; for lawn leveling or overseeding topdressing, depths are much shallower at 0.25-0.5 inches spread thinly across the whole yard. The tool reports both the raw volume and the settlement-adjusted order quantity so you're not left an inch short after the soil has had a few weeks and a couple rains to compact down to its true resting volume.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Area: 100 sq ft
- Fill depth: 8 in
- Settling allowance: 15 %
Results
- Topsoil to order: 2.84
- Raw volume (no settling): 2.47
- Total cubic feet: 66.7
What each field means
Inputs
- Area (sq ft)
- The area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 100 sq ft so you have a working example on load.
- Fill depth (in)
- The fill depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 8 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.25–36 in.
- Settling allowance (%)
- The settling allowance used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 15 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–30 %.
Results
- Topsoil to order
- cu yd
- Raw volume (no settling)
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total cubic feet
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
4-6 inches of quality topsoil over the graded subgrade is a common standard before seeding or sodding a new lawn area.
How deep should a raised garden bed be filled?
8-12 inches of topsoil/compost blend supports most vegetables and annuals well; deeper beds (18-24 in) benefit root vegetables and perennials but cost proportionally more to fill.
Why does topsoil need a settling allowance?
Loose delivered topsoil is fluffed up from the loader bucket and will compact 10-20% once watered, rained on, and given a few weeks to settle, so ordering only the bare calculated volume often leaves beds visibly low afterward.
Is bagged topsoil cheaper than bulk delivery for small jobs?
For volumes under about 1-2 cubic yards, bagged topsoil (typically 0.75 or 1 cubic foot per bag) is often more practical since it avoids bulk delivery minimums, even though the per-cubic-yard cost is higher.
Accuracy and 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.
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Volume-based gravel order for suppliers who sell by the cubic yard instead of the ton.
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Topsoil Cubic Yards Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/topsoil-cubic-yards-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/topsoil-cubic-yards-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Topsoil Cubic Yards Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Topsoil Cubic Yards Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/topsoil-cubic-yards-calculator) (2026).