Soil Calculator
Tip: 4–6 inches of topsoil is recommended for new lawns. 1–2 inches is sufficient for top dressing existing lawns.
Order 10–15% extra to account for compaction. Soil settles after spreading and watering.
How to Calculate Soil Volume
Measure the area you want to cover in square feet.
Decide how deep you want the soil (in inches).
Multiply area × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet.
Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a new lawn, you need 4–6 inches of topsoil. For a 1,000 sq ft area at 4 inches deep, that's about 12.5 cubic yards or 337.5 cubic feet. Order 10–15% extra for compaction.
A standard bag of topsoil is 1–2 cubic feet. There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard. So you'd need 14–27 bags for one cubic yard, depending on bag size. Buying in bulk is usually cheaper for large projects.
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of natural soil, suitable for grading and filling. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and organic matter, better for planting beds. For new lawns, use topsoil; for gardens, use garden soil.
You need at least 4 inches of good topsoil before laying sod. 6 inches is ideal for long-term root health. If your existing soil is poor, add 2–4 inches of topsoil and till it into the native soil before laying sod.
Yes, spreading 1–2 inches of compost and tilling it into the top 4–6 inches of soil improves drainage, nutrient content, and root establishment. Compost is especially important for clay or sandy soils.