Free Calculator
Soil Calculator — How Much Soil Do I Need?
Cubic yards of topsoil, fill dirt, garden mix, compost, and clays.
3. Enter Dimensions
Your order summary lands here
As soon as the dimensions are valid, you will see the recommended quantity, truckload count, and the ZIP pricing step.
Use this calculator to size bulk soil for new lawns, garden beds, grading, raised planters, infields, and equestrian arenas. Soil is sold by the cubic yard. Florida ZIPs return a live delivered price.
How to use this soil calculator
- 1
Pick the soil
Topsoil for lawns and general landscaping. Fill dirt for structural grading. Garden soil mix or compost for beds. Baseball or red clay for infields and equestrian use.
- 2
Measure the area
Length × width in feet. For curved beds, square off to the longest length and widest width — the extra material acts as a buffer.
- 3
Pick a depth
New lawns: 4–6 inches. Garden beds and raised planters: 8–12 inches. Top dressing existing lawn: 1/4–1/2 inch (use Custom). Fill and grading: as needed.
- 4
Enter your ZIP
Florida ZIPs return delivered pricing per cubic yard. Outside Florida the sizing still applies — request a quote for delivery.
How the math works
Volume in cubic yards equals Length × Width × Depth ÷ 27, with depth converted from inches to feet by dividing by 12. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
Soil is sold loose. Once spread and watered it settles 10–20%. The calculator buffer accounts for normal settling — order to the finished grade you want, not the freshly dumped pile.
For new lawns, plan 4–6 inches of clean topsoil over loosened subgrade. Thinner layers leave roots in compacted construction subsoil and the lawn fails by mid-summer.
How much does soil cover?
Quick reference for how much area one ton and one cubic yard cover at common depths.
| Depth | 1 ton covers | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | — sold by yard — | 324 sq ft |
| 2" | — sold by yard — | 162 sq ft |
| 3" | — sold by yard — | 108 sq ft |
| 4" | — sold by yard — | 81 sq ft |
| 6" | — sold by yard — | 54 sq ft |
| 12" | — sold by yard — | 27 sq ft |
Coverage is volume-based — one cubic yard always covers the same area at a given depth regardless of soil density.
Typical quantities by project
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New lawn 1,000 sq ft topsoil | 4" | 1,000 sq ft | ~13 cubic yards |
| Raised bed 4 ft × 8 ft garden mix | 12" | 32 sq ft | ~1.2 cubic yards |
| Low-spot fill 500 sq ft | 6" | 500 sq ft | ~9 cubic yards fill dirt |
| Top dressing 2,000 sq ft | 1/2" | 2,000 sq ft | ~3 cubic yards screened topsoil |
| Equestrian arena footing refresh | 3" | 5,000 sq ft | ~46 cubic yards red clay |
Which size should you use?
Each soil product fills a different role. Pick by the use case, not the name.
Topsoil
Screened nutrient-rich soil for lawns, gardens, and general landscaping. Sandy in Florida.
Fill dirt
Structural subsoil for grading, pool removal, pad building, and foundation backfill.
Garden soil mix
Blended soil + compost for vegetable beds, planters, and raised beds.
Compost
Mature organic amendment for enriching beds and top-dressing lawns.
Baseball clay
Infield mix and pitcher's mound clay for ball fields.
Red clay
Iron-rich clay for equestrian arenas, landscape features, and base fill.
Common ordering mistakes
From real deliveries, these are the mistakes we see most often. Avoiding any one of them saves a callback order.
Confusing topsoil with fill dirt
Topsoil grows plants. Fill dirt is structural subsoil with no organic matter. Buying the wrong one wastes money — fill dirt costs less per yard and does not support a lawn.
Soil layer too shallow
A 1-inch topsoil layer over compacted subgrade fails. Plan 4–6 inches for lawns and 8–12 inches for beds so roots have room to establish.
Pure compost in beds
Compost holds too much water and can burn roots. Cap it at 10–20% of the fill volume. The rest should be garden soil mix or topsoil.
Skipping subgrade prep
Soil on top of compacted construction subsoil drains poorly and stunts roots. Loosen the top 4 inches of subgrade before spreading topsoil.
Forgetting settlement
Soil settles 10–20% in the first month after watering. Order to your finished grade plus the buffer, not the strict math.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to see delivered pricing?
Jump back to the calculator to price the exact quantity for your ZIP, or request a manual quote if the project needs special handling.