How Much Topsoil Do I Need? Free Calculator (2026)

Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard (bulk) or the 0.75 cubic foot bag, and the wrong order costs you either a second delivery fee or a pile rotting on the driveway. This guide gives you the exact topsoil calculator formula, recommended depths for lawns, raised beds, and leveling, plus 2026 delivered prices for fill dirt and screened topsoil.

The topsoil calculator formula

Cubic yards of topsoil = (Square feet × Depth in inches) ÷ 324

One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, and 81 sq ft at 4 inches. Memorize 162 — most new lawns get 2 inches of topsoil, so one yard covers about 162 sq ft.

How to calculate topsoil step by step

Step 1 — Measure the area in square feet

For rectangles: Length × Width. For irregular yards, break the area into rectangles and circles and add them. A circle is π × radius² (π ≈ 3.14). Slightly over is fine — topsoil settles 10–20% after watering.

Step 2 — Pick the right depth

• New lawn (seed or sod) — 4 to 6 inches of topsoil over subsoil
• Top-dressing an existing lawn — 1/4 to 1/2 inch (never more)
• Overseeding — 1/4 inch only
• Raised garden beds — 8 to 12 inches
• Vegetable garden in-ground — 6 to 8 inches
• Leveling low spots in a yard — fill to grade, then 2" topsoil on top
• Around new trees and shrubs — 4 to 6 inches in the planting hole

Step 3 — Run the formula

Worked example: a 1,000 sq ft new lawn at 4 inches deep = (1,000 × 4) ÷ 324 = 12.3 cubic yards. Round up to 13 yards bulk, or 555 bags of 0.75 cu ft (each bag covers ~2.25 sq ft at 4").

Topsoil coverage chart (1 cubic yard)

• 1/4 inch deep — 1,296 sq ft (top-dressing a lawn)
• 1/2 inch deep — 648 sq ft
• 1 inch deep — 324 sq ft
• 2 inches deep — 162 sq ft (light leveling)
• 3 inches deep — 108 sq ft
• 4 inches deep — 81 sq ft (new lawn minimum)
• 6 inches deep — 54 sq ft (raised beds, planting soil)

How much topsoil do I need for common projects?

• 1,000 sq ft new lawn at 4" — 12.3 cu yd / ~555 bags
• 5,000 sq ft new lawn at 4" — 61.7 cu yd (bulk delivery only)
• 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) at 4" — 538 cu yd
• Top-dressing 1,000 sq ft at 1/4" — 0.77 cu yd / ~35 bags
• 4 × 8 ft raised bed at 10" deep — 1 cu yd / 45 bags
• Leveling a 200 sq ft low spot at 3" — 1.85 cu yd
• Overseed prep, 2,000 sq ft at 1/4" — 1.55 cu yd

Topsoil cost per yard (2026)

• Bulk screened topsoil — $20 to $50 per cu yd
• Bulk fill dirt (unscreened) — $8 to $20 per cu yd
• Premium garden / raised bed blend — $40 to $80 per cu yd
• Bagged topsoil (0.75 cu ft) — $2 to $5 per bag (~$70–$180 per cu yd equivalent)
• Delivery fee — $50 to $150 flat (often free above 5 yards)
• Installed (spread and graded) — $40 to $75 per cu yd labor on top

Break-even: bulk almost always wins above 1 cubic yard. For the 1,000 sq ft lawn example: bulk screened (13 yd × $35 + $100 delivery) ≈ $555. Same job in bags: 555 × $3 = $1,665 — three times the price, before you load and haul them.

Fill dirt vs topsoil vs garden soil — what to order

• Fill dirt — subsoil with clay, rocks, no organics. Use it to build up grade or fill holes below the top 4 inches.
• Topsoil — the top 4–12 inches of native soil, screened to remove rocks. Use for lawns, sodding, and the top layer when leveling.
• Screened topsoil — sifted to 1/2" or 3/8". Smoother and easier to spread. Worth the small upcharge for seed beds.
• Garden / raised bed mix — topsoil blended with compost and sometimes peat. Use only inside beds; too rich for a lawn.
• Loam — the ideal soil texture (~40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay). Sold as premium topsoil in most regions.

How much topsoil to top-dress a lawn

Top-dressing means a thin layer of compost or screened topsoil over an existing lawn — typically 1/4 inch, never more than 1/2 inch in one pass, because thicker layers smother grass. For 1,000 sq ft at 1/4 inch you need about 0.77 cubic yards, or 21 cubic feet. Spread with a shovel and level with the back of a rake or a drag mat.

How much topsoil for sod

Sod needs 4 to 6 inches of loose topsoil under it. Less than 4 inches and roots can't establish before summer heat; more than 6 is wasted money. For 1,000 sq ft of new sod, order 12 to 19 cubic yards depending on depth.

How to find cubic feet (if you're buying bags)

Cubic feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft). Convert depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12. A 100 sq ft bed at 4 inches deep = 100 × (4 ÷ 12) = 33.3 cubic feet. At 0.75 cu ft per bag, that's 45 bags.

What drives topsoil cost up

1. Screening — screened costs 50–100% more than unscreened fill.
2. Distance from the quarry — every 10 miles past free delivery adds $5–$15.
3. Season — spring (March–May) is peak; prices drop 10–20% in late fall.
4. Blend — compost-amended topsoil runs $20–$40 more per yard.
5. Region — coastal metros price 2× rural averages.

Get a real estimate in seconds

Use the calculators on the home page to estimate topsoil, mulch, gravel and concrete in one place — enter square footage and depth, get cubic yards, bag count, and 2026 delivered cost instantly.