Topsoil Calculator
Topsoil is ordered by the cubic yard but measured on site in feet and inches, and some suppliers price it by the ton instead. This calculator gives you both figures from the same area and depth, and shows the bulk density it used to convert between them.
How it works
Multiply length by width by depth to get cubic feet. Depth is in inches, so divide it by 12 first: a 4 inch layer is 0.333 ft. Divide the result by 27 to get cubic yards, which is the unit a bulk supplier quotes.
To get tons, multiply the cubic yards by 1.3. That is the bulk density Luck Ecosystems publishes on its premium topsoil data sheet, measured prior to full compaction at average moisture — so one cubic yard weighs about 2,600 lb, and one ton is roughly 0.77 yd³. Wet soil weighs more than this; a screened sandy blend weighs less.
The depth you enter is the finished depth you want after the soil is raked and firmed, not the height of the loose pile you dump. For a new lawn, New Mexico State University Extension gives a total topsoil depth of 4 to 6 inches after firming.
Formula: Cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 · Tons = cubic yards × 1.3 tons/yd³
Measuring on site
- Measure the area that actually gets soil. On a lawn renovation that means subtracting the house, the drive, the beds and the paths — often a third of the lot.
- Split an irregular bed into rectangles, run each one, and add the yards. Curved beds are easier to measure as the rectangle that contains them; the surplus is small at 4 inches of depth.
- Check the depth against what is already there. If you are topping up 2 inches over existing soil, enter 2 — not the 6 inch finished profile — or you will order three times what you need.
Waste and what it covers
Bulk topsoil compacts under its own weight and settles further with rain and watering, so the yardage that fills a bed on day one is not the yardage that fills it a month later. No DOT specification, NRCS document or extension bulletin we searched publishes a compaction or waste percentage for ordering bulk topsoil — the widely repeated '10 to 25% extra' traces back only to other calculators. So the waste factor here is yours to set, and we apply nothing behind your back. Crews commonly add something; we are not going to pretend we can cite a number for it.
| Area | 4 in — yd³ | 4 in — tons | 6 in — yd³ | 6 in — tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² | 1.23 | 1.60 | 1.85 | 2.41 |
| 500 ft² | 6.17 | 8.02 | 9.26 | 12.04 |
| 1,000 ft² | 12.35 | 16.05 | 18.52 | 24.07 |
| 2,000 ft² | 24.69 | 32.10 | 37.04 | 48.15 |
Questions
- How many yards of topsoil do I need for a 1,000 sq ft lawn?
- At 4 inches finished depth, 12.35 cubic yards — about 16.05 tons. At 6 inches, 18.52 cubic yards or 24.07 tons. Both depths are inside the 4 to 6 inch range NMSU Extension gives for establishing a lawn, so the choice is yours; the difference is half again as much soil.
- How many square feet does a yard of topsoil cover?
- 81 ft² at 4 inches deep, 54 ft² at 6 inches, and 162 ft² at a 2 inch top dressing. Coverage is inversely proportional to depth, which is why getting the depth right matters more than trimming the area.
- How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
- About 1.3 tons — 2,600 lb — using the published figure for screened topsoil before full compaction. Going the other way, one ton is about 0.77 yd³. Soil delivered wet after rain weighs noticeably more per yard, so a tonnage quote can buy you less volume than you expected.
- How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
- 4 to 6 inches after firming, per NMSU Extension guide H-509. That is the total depth of workable soil, so if you already have 2 inches of decent soil you are adding 2 to 4, not the full profile.
Sources
- Luck Ecosystems (Luck Stone) — Technical Data Sheet — Premium Topsoil“Bulk Density prior to full compaction — 1.3 tons/yd3 (approximate) assumes moderate compaction and average moisture”
- New Mexico State University Extension — Guide H-509, Lawns“Add topsoil (loamy sand, sandy loam, or other soil suitable for the area) and organic matter to achieve a total topsoil depth of 4–6 inches after firming.”
Figures and sources last checked by The BuilderTally Team in August 2026.