Topsoil Calculator
One cubic yard of screened topsoil covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep and weighs roughly 1.1 tons.
Topsoil is usually delivered loose by the yard and sometimes priced by the ton. Enter your area and target depth to get both figures plus bag equivalents for small jobs.
Topsoil calculator
Area 1
You need
0cubic yards
- Area covered
- 0 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 0
- Weight
- 0 tons
- 40 lb bag (0.75 cu ft)s
- 0 bags
- Estimated cost
- $0
Density of 2,200 lb/yd³ is typical for screened, moist topsoil. Sandy mixes are lighter; clay soils heavier. Estimates only — confirm with your supplier before ordering.
Topsoil coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Yards per 500 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | 1.54 yd³ |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | 3.09 yd³ |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | 4.63 yd³ |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | 6.17 yd³ |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | 9.26 yd³ |
Topsoil questions people actually ask
- How many tons is a yard of topsoil?
- Screened topsoil weighs about 2,200 pounds per cubic yard, so one yard is roughly 1.1 tons. Wet or clay-heavy soil can exceed 2,700 pounds per yard.
- How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
- Four to six inches of quality topsoil gives grass roots enough room. Two inches is fine for topdressing an existing lawn.
- How many bags of topsoil in a cubic yard?
- A 40 lb bag holds about 0.75 cubic feet, so a cubic yard equals roughly 36 bags. Bulk delivery is cheaper above about a third of a yard.
Gear for a topsoil job
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Related calculators
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- Sand CalculatorOne cubic yard of sand weighs about 1.35 tons and covers roughly 324 square feet at a 1-inch paver bedding depth.
- Grass Seed CalculatorA new lawn needs about 1 pound of grass seed per 250 square feet; overseeding an existing lawn takes about half that.
- Sod CalculatorA standard pallet of sod covers about 450 square feet, and a single roll covers about 10 square feet.
How this number is calculated
Density of 2,200 lb/yd³ is typical for screened, moist topsoil. Sandy mixes are lighter; clay soils heavier. Volume is area × depth, converted to cubic yards by dividing cubic feet by 27. See all our assumptions.