Topsoil Calculator
Area to cover
Loose soil settles after spreading; add a % to over-order.
Check the size printed on your bag.
From a soil test or the address lookup; used to estimate weight.
Optional. Loads the soil USDA maps at a US address to prefill and tailor the result.
How much topsoil a new lawn needs
University extension services put the floor at about 4 inches of settled topsoil, and more on hard sites[1][2][4]:
- Penn State Extension: typically a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of good-quality topsoil, measured firmed or settled, to establish good turf; ideally 2 inches of it mixed into the upper 2 to 3 inches of the subsoil, so the layers blend[1].
- New Mexico State University: 4 inches is the absolute minimum soil depth for a lawn, and 6 inches or more is recommended for deep roots[2].
- University of Georgia Extension: on steep slopes or where rock outcrops exist, at least 12 inches[4].
- On new construction sites, topsoil is sometimes stripped and stockpiled or hauled away, so you may have to spread what’s left or haul in new topsoil[4].
Matching new topsoil to the soil underneath
Oklahoma State University Extension’s advice for lawns: on clay, work at least 4 to 6 inches of loamy topsoil or coarse sand into the upper 2 to 4 inches of the soil below; on sandy ground, work 6 to 8 inches of loamy topsoil into the upper 4 to 6 inches[5]. Enter an address in the calculator and we show the line that matches the soil USDA maps there.
Starting from a difficult soil? See how to improve sandy soil or how to fix compacted soil.
Cubic yards per 1,000 square feet
Calculated as area × depth, with 27 cubic feet to the cubic yard[3]:
| Depth (in) | Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83.3 | 3.1 |
| 2 | 166.7 | 6.2 |
| 3 | 250 | 9.3 |
| 4 | 333.3 | 12.3 |
| 6 | 500 | 18.5 |
| 8 | 666.7 | 24.7 |
| 12 | 1000 | 37 |
In metric, cubic meters per 100 m², the same way[3]:
| Depth (cm) | Cubic meters per 100 m² |
|---|---|
| 5 | 5 |
| 10 | 10 |
| 15 | 15 |
| 20 | 20 |
| 30 | 30 |
27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard, so 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft make one yard[3].
See how thick the surface layer runs across the US, and the layers under any address, on soil horizons.
Bags or bulk?
Landscape supplies are sold by the cubic yard[6]; bags are labeled in cubic feet or liters. The calculator rounds bags up to whole bags. Bags per cubic yard, calculated[3]:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 |
| 2.5 cu ft | 10.8 |
| 40 L | 19.1 |
| 50 L | 15.3 |
Estimating the weight
How much a yard of soil weighs depends on how dense and how wet it is. USDA’s soil survey records a dry bulk density, with a low to high range, for soil layers; enter an address and we use the surface layer’s to estimate the dry weight of your order. At 1.3 g/cm³, the value USDA gives for Clarion loam in Story County, Iowa, one cubic yard weighs about 1.1 US tons dry[7][3]. Moist soil weighs more.
Worked example
A new lawn of 40 × 25 ft (1,000 sq ft) at 6 inches: 1,000 × 0.5 = 500 cu ft = 18.5 cubic yards, or 334 bags of 1.5 cu ft[3].
Ways people use this calculator
- Ordering topsoil for a new lawn after construction.
- Raising and leveling a yard before seeding or sod.
- Comparing bulk delivery with bagged soil.
- Checking how much a delivery will weigh before loading a trailer.
How we calculate this
The arithmetic, with unit factors from NIST[3] and the weight from USDA’s bulk density[7]:
- Volume = area × depth × (1 + settling%/100); in feet, length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12).
- Conversions: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.764555 m³; 1 ft³ = 28.3168 L.
- Bags are rounded up to whole bags.
- Settling is optional and your choice; we never suggest a number.
- Weight = volume × USDA dry bulk density (surface layer, with its low–high range), so it’s an estimate.
- Our texture groups for the advice line: sandy = sand, loamy sand, sandy loam; clay = clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, clay; loamy = loam, silt loam, silt, sandy clay loam.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need?
Multiply area by depth: length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12) gives cubic feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards. A 1,000 sq ft lawn needs about 12.3 cubic yards at 4 inches and 18.5 at 6 inches[3].
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Penn State Extension recommends 4 to 6 inches, measured firmed or settled[1]. New Mexico State University calls 4 inches the minimum and recommends 6 inches or more for deep roots[2].
How many bags of topsoil make a yard?
It depends on bag size: 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 18 of 1.5 cu ft, 13.5 of 2 cu ft[3].
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
It depends on density and moisture. Dry, at USDA’s 1.3 g/cm³ for Clarion loam, about 1.1 US tons[7][3]; wet soil weighs more. Enter your address to use USDA’s figures for your soil.
Should I order extra for settling?
Penn State’s 4 to 6 inches is a firmed or settled depth[1], so the loose layer you spread starts deeper. Add a settling allowance in the calculator if you want one.
Sources
- Penn State Extension, Lawn Establishment
- New Mexico State University, Turfgrass Establishment (Guide H-509, B. Leinauer)
- NIST, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SP 811), Appendix B.8: Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically
- UGA Extension Bulletin 1533-2, Lawns in Georgia: Establishment (C. Waltz, 2021)
- Oklahoma State University Extension, Site and soil prep for turfgrass
- Oregon State University Extension, How to use compost in gardens and landscapes (EM 9308, 2021; reviewed 2025)
- USDA NRCS, Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), via Soil Data Access
Marko Visic · MPharm, BSc Physics · Last reviewed November 13, 2026