Soil & Raised Beds
Soil Calculator: How Much Soil Do I Need?
Use this soil calculator to work out how much soil or topsoil you need for garden beds, pots, and lawn top dressing. Enter the area and depth to get litres and cubic metres.
Estimated soil volume
Soil result
16.67 cu ft
100 sq ft at 2 inches deep equals 16.67 cubic feet or 0.62 cubic yards.
When to use this soil calculator
This calculator is best for simple area-and-depth soil estimates. Use it when you know the total square footage and the depth you want to add.
- Adding soil to a garden bed.
- Topdressing a lawn with a thin soil layer.
- Estimating fill for shallow planting areas.
- Comparing bagged soil with bulk soil delivery.
Soil volume examples
| Area | Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 2 in | 16.67 cu ft | 0.62 cu yd |
| 100 sq ft | 6 in | 50.00 cu ft | 1.85 cu yd |
| 200 sq ft | 3 in | 50.00 cu ft | 1.85 cu yd |
| 500 sq ft | 1 in | 41.67 cu ft | 1.54 cu yd |
Bagged soil estimate
After calculating cubic feet, divide by the bag size and round up. For example, 16.67 cubic feet requires 9 bags if each bag is 2 cubic feet. For larger raised beds with bag-size controls, use the Raised Bed Soil Calculator.
Common mistakes
- Using inches for depth without dividing by 12.
- Forgetting that one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
- Buying exactly the calculated amount with no allowance for settling.
- Using dense native soil where a lighter garden mix would work better.
FAQ
Soil calculator FAQ
How do I calculate soil volume?
Multiply square feet by depth in inches, then divide by 12 to get cubic feet.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.
How much extra soil should I buy?
A 5% to 10% buffer is practical for settling, spillage, and uneven ground.
Can this estimate raised bed soil?
Yes, but the dedicated raised bed calculator is better when you need bed count, bag sizes, or metric inputs.
Can I use this for lawn topdressing?
Yes. Enter the lawn area and a shallow depth such as 0.25 to 0.5 inches.