Topsoil Calculator for Gardens
Estimate topsoil for garden beds and planting areas.
Garden and planting beds usually want about 6 inches of quality topsoil worked into the existing ground. The calculator starts at 6 inches; enter your bed area below and it reports cubic yards plus tons.
Topsoil Calculator
Estimate how much you need — and the cost.
- cubic feet 50
- cubic meters 1.416
- tons (US) 1.94
- tonnes 1.76
Tip: Work the new topsoil into the top few inches of existing soil rather than leaving a sharp layer line.
How it's calculated
1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in / about 81 sq ft at 4 in deep; about 1.05 US tons per cubic yard.
See the full Topsoil Calculator for the complete how-to, unit conversions, and data sources.
Topsoil Calculator for Gardens FAQ
How much topsoil for a garden bed?
About 6 inches for most planting beds. A 100 sq ft bed at 6 inches needs roughly 1.85 cubic yards.
How deep should topsoil be for a garden?
Around 6 inches of good soil suits most vegetables and flowers; deep-rooted crops appreciate more.