Enter your area dimensions and depth to find cubic yards of topsoil needed, plus how many bags to buy and estimated cost.
Estimates only.
Multiply length by width to get area in square feet, then multiply by depth converted to feet (depth in inches divided by 12). Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. A standard 40 lb bag covers about 0.75 cubic feet, so the bag count is cubic feet divided by 0.75, rounded up.
At 4 inches deep you need about 12.3 cubic yards. At 2 inches deep you need about 6.2 cubic yards. Use the calculator above with your actual depth to get an exact number.
Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet (depth in inches divided by 12), then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. For example, 1,000 sq ft at 3 inches is (1000 x 0.25) / 27 = 9.26 cubic yards.
Topsoil weighs roughly 1 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard depending on moisture content. A cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs about 1 ton, while wet topsoil can reach 1.3 tons per yard.
For lawns, 2 to 4 inches is typical. For new garden beds, 6 to 8 inches gives roots room to establish. Mix the new topsoil into the existing soil a few inches deep to avoid a distinct layer boundary.