Topsoil Calculator: Cubic Yards to Fill or Level
Find the cubic yards of topsoil to order from the area and depth you need to fill or level, plus tons and total weight.
weight = 2.5 cu yd × 1.08 tons/yd³ = 2.67 tons
How it works
Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard, so the calculation starts with volume: length times width gives the area of the bed, and multiplying by the depth turns that area into a volume. Because depth is entered in inches while the bed is measured in feet, the depth is divided by twelve first, giving cubic feet; dividing by twenty-seven converts to the cubic yards a supplier quotes.
The tool also reports a delivery weight in tons using a screened-topsoil density of about 1.08 tons per cubic yard. Soil weight is far less predictable than volume — wet soil and high-organic mixes can weigh noticeably more — so order by the yard and treat the ton figure as a rough guide to how heavy the load will be.
Most beds want three to six inches of new soil; a lawn top-dressing is a thin quarter to half inch. Because coverage changes directly with depth, the depth field is the input worth double-checking before you place an order.
volume = 20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd → order 2.5 cu yd
delivery weight ≈ 2.47 × 1.08 = 2.67 tons