FixerCalc

Topsoil Calculator

Dump-truck topsoil is a volume buy. Bagged soil is a convenience buy. This calculator shows both from the same depth so you can see when bulk actually wins.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25. How we calculate

Results update as you type. Units stay imperial inside the math.

Area

New lawns often want several inches of soil over subgrade; planting beds may need more.

Packaging

Results

  • Cubic yards

    3.89

  • Tons

    4.67

  • Bags

    105

  • Bulk material (your $/yd)

    $155.56

  • Area

    200 sq ft

  • “Topsoil” on a ticket may be fill dirt, compost blend, or screened loam. Quality is not in this math.
  • Deep vegetable beds and structural fill are different products. Do not use garden soil as a road base.

How this calculation works

  1. Cubic yards come from area × depth, same as any bulk landscape material.
  2. Tons use your density. Wet winter soil on a truck can weigh more than a dry summer load of the same yardage.
  3. Bag count uses the bag’s cubic feet, rounded up—bagged “1 cu ft” products are not always a true cubic foot of placed soil after fluffing.

yd³ = sq ft × (in/12) / 27 × (1+waste%); bags = ceil(ft³ / bag size)

What to do next

  • Ask whether the product is screened and what the compost fraction is if you are planting.
  • For sod, finish grade should be below sidewalks by the sod thickness; coordinate with the sod calculator.
  • Do not spread untested urban fill where children play without knowing what is in it.

FAQ

How much topsoil for a new lawn?
Many installs use about 4–8 inches of suitable soil over subgrade, then finish and sod or seed. Your site’s existing soil may need less imported material—or a lot more if you are on fill or clay.
Why is bagged soil so much more per yard?
You pay for packaging, retail handling, and small-quantity logistics. Above a couple of yards, bulk almost always wins on price if you can receive a dump.

Sources

  • Volume = area × depth; 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
  • Default 1.2 tons/yd³ is a mid planning density for screened topsoil; moisture changes weight

Cost defaults are typical US planning bands, last reviewed 2026-08-25. Edit the price fields on this page rather than treating them as a local market index.