How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?

A common baseline is 3–4 inches. Enter your area and depth here, then round up slightly for settling.

Should I include a waste factor?

Yes—topsoil settles after watering and grading. A 5–15% buffer is typical; adjust to your site.

Can I use this for raised beds?

Yes. Use interior bed dimensions and desired depth. It works for garden soil/compost blends too.

Does this handle irregular shapes?

Break the project into rectangles or circles, calculate each, and add the cubic yards before ordering.

This is aimed at bulk yards. If buying bags, convert bag volume to cubic feet and divide adjusted volume by bag size.

construction calculator

Topsoil Calculator

Estimate cubic yards of topsoil plus cost with a waste buffer for new lawns, beds, and grading.

Results

Area (sq ft): 600.00
Topsoil (cu ft): 220.00
Topsoil (cu yd): 8.15
Topsoil (cu m): 6.23
Estimated cost: $367

How to use this calculator

Enter project length and width in feet.
Set desired topsoil depth in inches and a waste/settling percentage.
Optionally add cost per cubic yard to estimate total budget.

Inputs explained

Length/Width: Project footprint in feet. Break irregular areas into sections and add them up.
Depth (in): Common depths: 3–4 inches for lawns, 6–8 inches for beds/planting.
Waste/settling (%): Extra soil to cover compaction, grading loss, or uneven ground.
Cost per cubic yard: Supplier price (bulk). Leave as-is or update to your quote.

How it works

We multiply length × width for area, convert depth from inches to feet, and compute cubic feet, yards, and meters.

A waste/settling factor adds extra volume to cover compaction, grading loss, and uneven terrain.

Formula

Area = Length × Width
Volume (cu ft) = Area × Depth(ft)
Adjusted volume = Volume × (1 + Waste%)
Cubic yards = Adjusted volume ÷ 27
Cubic meters = Adjusted volume ÷ 35.3147
Cost = Cubic yards × Cost per yard

When to use it

Ordering topsoil for new lawns or regrading low spots.
Estimating soil for raised beds or garden refreshes.
Budgeting bulk deliveries with a realistic waste/settling buffer.

Tips & cautions

Round up if the area is uneven or you expect more settling after watering/rolling.
Confirm whether your supplier quotes loose yards or compacted yards—use that price here.
If calculating several areas, run each section and sum the cubic yards before ordering.
Assumes rectangular sections; irregular shapes need section-by-section estimates.
Does not handle slope/grade changes directly—add extra for hills or cut/fill variability.
Waste percentage is a simple buffer; adjust based on soil moisture and compaction expectations.

Worked examples

30 ft × 20 ft lawn at 4 in depth, 10% waste

Area = 600 sq ft
Volume ≈ 200 cu ft
Adjusted ≈ 220 cu ft
≈ 8.15 cu yd (≈ 6.22 cu m)

Two beds: 12×6 ft and 10×4 ft at 6 in depth, 10% waste

Areas: 72 + 40 = 112 sq ft
Volume ≈ 56 cu ft
Adjusted ≈ 61.6 cu ft
≈ 2.28 cu yd

Deep dive

This topsoil calculator converts area and depth into cubic yards, cubic meters, and cost with a built-in waste buffer for settling and grading loss.

Use it to plan bulk deliveries for lawns, beds, or regrading projects, then round up slightly if the site is uneven or you expect heavy compaction.

FAQs

How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?: A common baseline is 3–4 inches. Enter your area and depth here, then round up slightly for settling.
Should I include a waste factor?: Yes—topsoil settles after watering and grading. A 5–15% buffer is typical; adjust to your site.
Can I use this for raised beds?: Yes. Use interior bed dimensions and desired depth. It works for garden soil/compost blends too.
Does this handle irregular shapes?: Break the project into rectangles or circles, calculate each, and add the cubic yards before ordering.
Bulk vs bagged soil?: This is aimed at bulk yards. If buying bags, convert bag volume to cubic feet and divide adjusted volume by bag size.

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Estimates only. Verify measurements on site and confirm pricing, delivery, and compaction expectations with your supplier or contractor.