How Much Topsoil Do I Need? Cubic Yard Guide & Calculator
Work out how many cubic yards of topsoil you need for a lawn, garden bed or raised bed — the formula, coverage table and recommended depths, with a free calculator.
The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27.
Example: a 30 ft × 20 ft backyard at 4 inches deep is 30 × 20 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 7.4 yards. Round up to 8 — topsoil settles, and it's cheaper to have a little left over than to pay for a second delivery.
How far does one yard go?
One cubic yard of topsoil covers approximately:
- 1" deep — 324 sq ft
- 2" deep — 162 sq ft
- 3" deep — 108 sq ft
- 4" deep — 81 sq ft
- 6" deep — 54 sq ft
Recommended depths
- Topdressing a lawn: ¼–½"
- Overseeding bare patches: ½–1"
- New lawn under sod or seed: 4–6"
- Flower and shrub beds: 6–8"
- Vegetable beds: 8–12"
Ordering tips
Measure each area separately and add them up. For irregular shapes, break them into rectangles. Odd-shaped beds: measure the longest length and the average width.
Ordering a full truckload — about 7, 10 or 14 yards depending on the truck — usually brings the delivery cost per yard down compared to several small drops.