How it works
Enter the area and depth to get cubic yards of bulk topsoil, an approximate weight in tons, and how many bags you would need instead.
Typical depths: 1/4 to 1/2 inch for top-dressing a lawn, 4 to 6 inches under new sod or seed, and 8 to 12 inches for vegetable gardens and raised beds. Loose soil settles as it is watered and walked on, so the default adds 10%.
Moist screened topsoil weighs roughly 2,000 to 2,400 lb per cubic yard. The tons figure uses 1.1 tons per yard, which is fine for planning a trailer load, but check your truck's payload.
Formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × (1 + extra). Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size.
Questions people ask
How many bags of topsoil equal a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
How much topsoil do I need for new grass?
Four to six inches of topsoil gives seed or sod a good root zone. For 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches that is about 12.3 cubic yards before settling.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1 to 1.2 US tons, depending on moisture and how much sand or organic matter it contains.