Example: a 20 × 15 ft new lawn, 4 in deep
- Area: 20 × 15 = 300 sq ft. Depth: 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Volume: 300 × 0.333 = 100 cu ft.
- Add 10% for settling: 110 cu ft ÷ 27 = 4.07 cu yd.
- Order 4.25 cu yd in bulk (about 4.5 tons). In bags that's 147 × 0.75 cu ft — bulk is the way to go.
How it's calculated
- Area: length × width for rectangles, π × (diameter ÷ 2)² for circles — or enter a total area.
- Volume = area × depth (inches ÷ 12 = feet).
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27; tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.1.
- Add the settling allowance and round up: ¼ cu yd in bulk, or whole bags.
Assumptions
- Density about 1,300 kg/m³ — roughly 1.1 US tons (2,200 lb) per cubic yard. Wet or clay-heavy soil weighs more.
- 10% extra by default for settling.
- Bags: 0.75 and 1 cu ft (US) or 25 L.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 to 1.3 tons (2,000–2,600 lb), depending on moisture and how much clay it contains. We estimate about 1.1 tons per cubic yard.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
4–6 inches gives grass a healthy root zone. For vegetable and raised beds, 8–12 inches of good soil — often topsoil mixed with compost — is better.
How many bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?
36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, or 27 bags of 1 cu ft.
How much area does a cubic yard of topsoil cover?
About 162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in.
Why order extra topsoil?
Freshly spread soil settles as it's watered, walked on and rolled — often by 10–20%. The default 10% helps your finished grade end up where you want it.
Topsoil or garden soil?
Topsoil is general-purpose soil for lawns, grading and filling. Garden soil and raised-bed mix are enriched with compost for planting. You calculate both the same way.