Soil Calculator
Estimate the soil volume, weight, and cost for your project.
Weight per cubic yard is adjusted based on soil type.
Auto-converts units for calculations.
Select desired soil depth.
Custom price entry based on local supplier rates.
Created by James S. Lockwood
With a background in botany and ecological sciences, James specializes in creating practical tools and resources to help gardeners, farmers, and plant enthusiasts optimize their green spaces.
Are you planning a landscaping project, raised garden bed, or large-scale soil purchase? Our Soil Calculator makes it easy to estimate the soil volume, weight, and cost required for your project. Whether you need topsoil, compost, clay, or sand, this soil volume calculator will help you determine exactly how much dirt you need in cubic yards, cubic feet, liters, and weight.
✅ Key Features:
✔️ Calculate cubic yards of soil for gardens, landscaping, and raised beds
✔️ Convert soil volume to weight in pounds, kilograms, and metric tons
✔️ Compare bulk soil vs. bagged soil pricing for cost-effective purchasing
✔️ Easy-to-use dirt calculator for accurate material estimation
Table of Contents
How Much Soil Do I Need?
The amount of soil you need depends on the area size, desired depth, and soil type. Whether you’re filling a raised garden bed, top-dressing a lawn, or laying new soil for landscaping, our dirt volume calculator quickly determines how much soil you should order.
How to Calculate Soil Volume?
To calculate the total soil volume in cubic yards, use this formula:
💡 Example Calculation:
- Area: 100 square feet
- Depth: 6 inches
- Soil Volume: (100 × 6) ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards
This means you need approximately 1.85 cubic yards of soil to cover 100 square feet at a depth of 6 inches.
1 Inch
📏 324 sq ft Coverage
2 Inches
📏 162 sq ft Coverage
3 Inches
📏 108 sq ft Coverage
6 Inches
📏 54 sq ft Coverage
12 Inches
📏 27 sq ft Coverage
How to Calculate Soil Volume for Raised Beds?
Raised garden beds require precise soil calculations to ensure optimal root growth and drainage. Use this formula:
Raised Bed Soil Volume Formula
💡 Example Calculation for a 4ft x 8ft Raised Bed at 12 inches depth:
Convert to cubic yards:
✅ Soil Needed: 1.2 cubic yards or 32 cubic feet
How to Calculate Compacted Soil Volume?
When soil is compacted, it shrinks due to air pockets being removed. This means you need more soil than the raw volume calculation suggests.
Compacted Soil Formula
💡 Common Compaction Factors:
- Loose soil: 1.0 (No adjustment)
- Light compaction: 1.1 – 1.2 (Increase soil volume by 10–20%)
- Heavy compaction: 1.3 – 1.5 (Increase by 30–50%)
✅ Example:
If you need 10 cubic yards of uncompacted soil, but it’s heavily compacted (1.5 compaction factor):
How to Calculate Yards of Soil?
A cubic yard is a standard measurement for bulk soil. One cubic yard is equivalent to:
✔️ 27 cubic feet
✔️ 202 gallons
✔️ 764 liters
Formula to Convert Soil Volume to Cubic Yards
If you know the volume in cubic feet, simply divide by 27 to get the cubic yards.
💡 Example:
- If you need 54 cubic feet of soil:
This means you need 2 cubic yards of soil.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards of Soil?
To determine how many cubic yards of dirt you need, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Measure the area (length × width) in square feet
2️⃣ Select the soil depth in inches
3️⃣ Use the formula:
4️⃣ Convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27
💡 Quick Reference:
1 Inch Depth
⛏️ 0.31 cubic yards per 100 sq ft
3 Inches Depth
⛏️ 0.93 cubic yards per 100 sq ft
6 Inches Depth
⛏️ 1.85 cubic yards per 100 sq ft
12 Inches Depth
⛏️ 3.7 cubic yards per 100 sq ft
This soil volume calculator automates these calculations for you, ensuring accuracy and saving time.
Soil Weight Calculator – How Heavy Is Soil?
Different soil types have different weights per cubic yard. Our soil weight calculator estimates the total weight of dirt based on the selected soil type.
Soil Type & Weight Per Cubic Yard
Topsoil
🪴 2,000 lbs per cubic yard
Loam
🪴 2,200 lbs per cubic yard
Compost
🪴 1,300 lbs per cubic yard
Sand
🪴 2,700 lbs per cubic yard
Clay
🪴 2,500 lbs per cubic yard
Mulch
🪴 500 lbs per cubic yard
Example Calculation:
If you need 2 cubic yards of topsoil:
This means you will need 4,000 lbs (or ~1.81 metric tons) of topsoil for your project.
Soil Cost Calculator – How Much Will It Cost?
The cost of soil varies based on type, location, and supplier. Our soil cost calculator estimates the total price based on your required volume.
Formula for Soil Cost Calculation
💡 Example Calculation:
- Soil Volume: 3 cubic yards
- Price per cubic yard: $50
✔️ Total Cost: $150
Bulk discounts may apply for larger purchases, making it cheaper to buy in higher quantities.
Why Use Our Soil Calculator?
✔️ Accurate Results – No more guesswork! Get precise soil volume, weight, and cost estimates.
✔️ Multi-Unit Support – Convert between cubic yards, cubic feet, liters, and weight effortlessly.
✔️ Custom Soil Pricing – Adjust cost per cubic yard based on supplier rates.
✔️ Mobile-Friendly & Easy to Use – Accessible on any device, perfect for on-site calculations.
Simply enter your area dimensions, choose soil depth, and get instant estimates for cubic yards of soil, soil weight, and total cost.
Disclaimer for Soil Calculator
Estimates provided by this calculator are for informational purposes only. Actual soil volume, weight, and cost may vary based on local conditions, soil compaction, and supplier pricing. Always confirm with your soil provider before purchase.