Topsoil Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and number of bags of topsoil needed for rectangle, circle, or triangle areas. Includes a lawn seeding calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
For establishing a new lawn: 4–6 inches of topsoil. For garden beds: 6–12 inches. For patching bare spots: 2–4 inches. Mixing with existing soil improves drainage and reduces the chance of a layer boundary that traps water.
Topsoil is the upper layer of native soil — it varies widely in quality. Garden soil is commercially blended for planting and typically includes compost and other amendments. Compost is decomposed organic matter that improves soil structure and adds nutrients.
One cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons). At 40 lbs per bag, you need about 68 bags per cubic yard. For small areas, bags are convenient; for anything over 2 cubic yards, bulk delivery is more economical.
New lawn establishment: 4–8 lbs per 1,000 sqft depending on grass type. Overseeding existing lawn: 2–4 lbs per 1,000 sqft. This calculator uses 4 lbs per 1,000 sqft as a baseline for new seeding.
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