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Bag size, density and extra for settling
Soil weight depends a lot on moisture. Fill dirt settles once compacted, so 10–15% extra is common.
Topsoil you need
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- Bulk order (rounded up to ½ )–
- Or buy bags–
- Weight–
Estimate only. Bulk soil is sold by the yard in most places; the weight helps if your supplier sells by the ton or you're checking a truck or trailer limit.
Bulk or bags: what it costs
Default prices are typical US prices, checked October 2026, and change with the material you pick. They are not quotes: change them to your supplier's prices.
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How the topsoil calculator works
Area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards. For example, 100 sq ft at 3 inches is 25 cu ft, or 0.93 cubic yards: 34 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 13 bags of 2 cu ft. The weight uses the density shown, which you can change.
Densities used
| Material | Tons per yd³ | Source |
|---|
Loose figures at normal moisture. Sources: the Aggregate Markets material density table (topsoil); fill dirt and compost are mid-range figures from supplier guides (fill dirt about 1–1.5 tons per yard; finished compost about 800–1,400 lb per yard).
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Loose, fairly dry topsoil weighs about 2,100 lb (1.05 tons) per cubic yard. Wet soil can weigh a lot more, and fill dirt with clay or rock is heavier still. That matters if you're hauling it: a cubic yard is more than most half-ton pickups should carry.
How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, 27 bags of 1 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Many lawn guides suggest 4 to 6 inches of topsoil for a new lawn, and a quarter to half an inch when top-dressing an existing one. Raised beds are usually filled 8 to 12 inches deep.
What is the difference between topsoil and fill dirt?
Topsoil is the darker, organic upper layer that plants grow in. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter, used to raise a grade or fill holes. It compacts and settles, so order a little extra and compact it in layers.