Topsoil Calculator

Measure each area in feet, pick a depth (the common ones are cited below), and get topsoil in cubic yards, approximate weight, and bag counts — with the density assumption shown and adjustable, never hidden.

How this is calculated

Shape areas are summed and multiplied by depth: volume = total area × depth (at depth d inches, cubic yards = square feet × d ÷ 324).
Weight = volume × bulk density, on a stated dry basis. The density range is a published soil-science table, not a guess — and because delivered soil carries moisture, the real load is heavier.
Bags = ⌈volume ÷ bag size⌉, using the size printed on the bag.

Data used, with sources

Value	Used as	Source
Dry bulk density 1.1–1.6 g/cm³	default 1.3 g/cm³ (loamy), selectable; oven-dry basis — moist soil weighs more	Penn State Extension
Depth: new lawn soil layer (before seed or sod)	6 in	Purdue University Extension
Depth: topdressing (seeding / overseeding)	0.125–0.375 in, preset 0.25 in	Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Tons here means US short tons (2,000 lb).

Choosing a depth

The two cited anchors: a full 6-inch soil layer when establishing a lawn from seed or sod (Purdue Extension's lawn-establishment figure — about 19 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet, so measure your own lawn with the lawn area calculator rather than scaling a nominal number; the sod calculator covers the turf going on top of it), and a thin 1/8–3/8-inch topdressing when overseeding an existing lawn (Cornell University's sports-field guidance). Between those lies judgment: filling a raised bed or leveling a low spot is a measurement, not a recommendation — measure the depth you actually need to fill and enter it directly. For a deep grade change, the fill dirt calculator is the page for the bulk of the volume, with topsoil only as the cap where things have to grow.

Bags or bulk?

Scale decides. Purdue's lawn-establishment figure — about 19 cubic yards for a 6-inch layer over 1,000 square feet — is roughly 684 three-quarter-cubic-foot bags: nobody bags a lawn. Each of those bags runs about 61 lb at the cited loamy density on a dry basis, and bagged “topsoil” is often moist off the pallet, so even a half-yard job is real lifting. Bags earn their premium for topdressing patches, filling a planter, or carrying soil through a house to a courtyard. For anything measured in whole yards, get bulk quotes — and bulk has a quality advantage specific to soil: because “topsoil” is not a regulated term (Purdue's warning below), you can look at, feel, and soil-test a supplier's pile before the truck comes, which no sealed bag allows.

Settling, quality, and common mistakes

Fresh soil settles. Purdue Extension advises allowing a week for placed soil to settle (rain or irrigation helps) before final grading. No source we cite quantifies a settling percentage, so this calculator does not add one — for fill work, expect to top up rather than over-order blind.
Test what you buy. Purdue's lawn guidance is blunt: if you bring in topsoil from off-site, soil-test it like your own — “topsoil” is not a regulated term, and quality varies enormously.
Don't bury tree roots. Piling soil over the root zone deprives roots of oxygen and can kill the tree.
Don't smother grass when topdressing. Stay in the cited 1/8–3/8-inch band and rake it in.

Frequently asked

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

On a dry basis, roughly 1,850–2,700 pounds, derived from the soil-texture bulk density range of 1.1–1.6 g/cm³ published by Penn State Extension (loamy topsoil at 1.3 g/cm³ is about 2,190 lb). Delivered topsoil is field-moist and weighs more — after rain, substantially more.

How many bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it is pure arithmetic by bag size: 36 bags at 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags at 1 cu ft, 18 bags at 1.5 cu ft, or 14 bags at 2 cu ft (13.5 rounded up). The size is printed on the bag.

How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?

Purdue Extension figures approximately 19 cubic yards of topsoil for a 6-inch layer over 1,000 square feet. Enter your measured area with the 6-inch preset above for your own number.

How thick should I topdress a lawn?

Thin. Cornell University sports-field guidance uses a 1/8- to 3/8-inch layer when seeding or overseeding — about 0.4 to 1.2 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet. Piling it thicker smothers the existing grass.

Sources

Effects of Soil Compaction — Penn State Extension, accessed Jul 31, 2026.
Establishing a Lawn from Sod (AY-28-W) — Purdue University Extension, accessed Jul 31, 2026.
Topdressing — Sports Field Management — Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, accessed Jul 31, 2026.

Quantities on this page are planning estimates, not engineering advice or a purchase guarantee — product sizes vary by producer, so confirm coverage with your supplier before ordering.