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.

Areas to cover (measure in feet; add one entry per section)

Length (ft) Width (ft)

Depth (cited presets below the calculator)Depth (in) Preset

Soil assumptions (cited below the calculator)Dry bulk density Bag size (as printed on the bag)

Enter at least one area and a depth to see how much topsoil to order.

How this is calculated

Formula v1.0 · Data v2026.2, verified 2026-07-31

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

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), 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.

Bags or bulk?

The break-even is mostly labor and access, not price alone. One cubic yard is 36 three-quarter-cubic-foot bags — a pallet's worth of lifting, carrying, and empty plastic — while bulk arrives in one dump. Bags win for small jobs (under a few cubic feet), for carrying through a house to a courtyard, and for storing leftovers dry. Bulk wins on quantity: if your result above reads in whole cubic yards, get delivery quotes. Weight matters too: at2,190 lb per dry cubic yard and more when moist, a multi-yard order is not a passenger-car load.

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 questions

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 2026-07-31.
Establishing a Lawn from Sod (AY-28-W) — Purdue University Extension, accessed 2026-07-31.
Topdressing — Sports Field Management — Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, accessed 2026-07-31.

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.