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Topsoil Calculator

Calculate topsoil volume and weight for lawns and gardens, accounting for natural soil settling.

Topsoil Calculator Interactive Tool

Interactive Calculator

Enter your project dimensions below. Results update instantly.

4 inches standard for new turf/lawn establishment
typical value, change to match your productLoose topsoil compacts 15% once watered or rolled
typical value, change to match your productScreened loam topsoil is typically 1.1 to 1.25 tons/yd³
typical value, change to match your productStandard retail topsoil bag is 40 lbs

Results

Base Volume

3.7 cu yd

100 cu ft (before settling)
Adjusted Volume to Order

4.26 cu yd

Includes +15% settling allowance (115 cu ft)
Weight in Tons

4.9 tons

At 1.15 tons/yd³
Retail Bags

245

40-lb bags (if buying bagged)

Total coverage area: 300 sq ft. Topsoil naturally compacts and settles by 10%–20% once watered or rolled. We factored your chosen settling margin into the final order quantity.

Topsoil Volume & Settling Formulas

Compacted cu ft = Area (sq ft) × (Depth (in) ÷ 12) × (1 + Settling % ÷ 100) | cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27 | Tons = cu yd × 1.15 tons/yd³

Formula Variables:

  • Settling Allowance:Loose tilled topsoil settles 10%–20% once wet down and rolled.
  • Density:Screened garden loam averages 1.1 to 1.2 tons (2,200 to 2,400 lbs) per cubic yard.

Soil delivered from bulk suppliers contains air pockets. If you order without settling allowance, your lawn will grade lower than planned.

Step-by-Step Worked Example

Example: 600 sq ft lawn patch graded to 4-inch depth with 15% settling

Repairing a sunken lawn area measuring 20 ft by 30 ft by adding 4 inches of premium screened loam.

Area:600 sq ft
Depth:4 inches
Settling Margin:15%
Density:1.15 tons/yd³
  1. Raw volume: 600 sq ft × (4 ÷ 12) = 200 cu ft.
  2. Add 15% settling margin: 200 × 1.15 = 230 cu ft.
  3. Convert to cubic yards: 230 ÷ 27 = 8.52 cu yd.
  4. Calculate weight: 8.52 cu yd × 1.15 tons/yd³ = 9.80 tons (19,600 lbs).
  5. Optional 40-lb bags: 19,600 lbs ÷ 40 lbs/bag = 490 bags.
Order 8.5 to 9.0 cubic yards of bulk screened topsoil (or ~9.8 tons).

Input Explanations & Measurement Guidelines

Area

Typical: 300 to 1,000 sq ft

Surface footprint of the lawn or garden bed.

Depth

Typical: 4 inches

Thickness of new soil layer. 4 to 6 inches for new lawn turf; 8 to 12 inches for raised beds.

Settling Allowance

Typical: 15%

Percentage buffer to offset soil compaction after watering.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Assumes standard dry-to-moderately moist screened topsoil/loam blend.
  • Wet muddy topsoil weighs significantly more per yard (~1.3+ tons) and clumps when spreading.

Safety & Professional Notes

  • Before digging deeper than 12 inches for grading or tree planting, call 811 (in the US) to mark underground gas, electric, and telecom lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?

For seeding or laying sod, 4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil provides sufficient root depth and moisture retention.

Why does topsoil settle so much?

Screened topsoil contains large volumes of trapped air. As soon as rain or a lawn roller compresses the particles, the height drops by 15% to 20%.

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