Soil Calculator
Calculate exactly how much dirt, topsoil, or mulch you need in cubic yards and bags for raised beds, gardens, and landscaping.
Last updated: February 24, 2026
Adding stone or gravel instead? Use the Gravel Calculator
Standard flower beds require 6-8 inches. Top-dressing lawns requires 0.5-1 inch.
Cost Estimation (Optional)
Total Soil Needed
Cubic Yards
0.62
yd³Cubic Feet
16.7
ft³23 Bags
(0.75 cubic ft size)
$114.77
Est. Cost
1 Yards Bulk
To nearest yard
$35.00
Est. Cost
How Soil Purchasing Works
All landscape suppliers deal in cubic yards. Because a yard is 3 feet long, one cubic yard contains exactly 27 cubic feet (3x3x3). If you measure your garden in feet, just divide the total cubic feet by 27 to find out how many yards to order.
If you need a single 10ft x 4ft x 1ft deep raised bed filled, you need 40 cubic feet of soil. At big-box store sizes (0.75 cu ft per bag), you would literally have to rip open 54 heavy plastic bags to fill one standard garden bed.
High-quality potting soil bags are expensive—often $3-$6 each. Buying enough to match 1 yard can cost $150-$200. Conversely, a local supplier will sell a cubic yard of premium mixed garden soil for $35-$50. Even with a $50 delivery fee, bulk wins rapidly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are you planning a community garden or helping a neighbor? Send them this soil estimator so nobody overbuys bags at the store.