Topsoil Calculator
Topdressing a lawn, seeding a new one, or filling beds? Enter the area and depth and get cubic yards for bulk delivery, 40-lb bag counts for the garden center, and a rough delivered weight.
Cubic yards
12.35
order for bulk delivery
Cubic feet
333.3
40-lb bags
445
≈0.75 cu ft each
Weight
≈14.8
tons at 1.2/yd³
Screened topsoil runs 1.0–1.4 tons per cubic yard depending on moisture — 1.2 is a working average, so weigh-outs will vary. Most suppliers deliver by the full yard with a 1-yard minimum; round up and use the extra to topdress low spots. Beyond about half a yard, bulk is almost always cheaper than 40-lb bags.
How Topsoil Math Works
Topsoil is sold by volume, so the math is area times depth: 1,000 sq ft at 3" deep is 1,000 × 0.25 = 250 cubic feet, or 9.26 cubic yards — about 334 40-lb bags (each holds roughly 0.75 cu ft) or 11.1 tons. The weight figure assumes screened topsoil at 1.2 tons per cubic yard; moisture swings real-world loads between roughly 1.0 and 1.4, so treat tonnage as an estimate. Most suppliers deliver by the full cubic yard with a 1-yard minimum, which is why the calculator's default — a 25×40 ft lawn at the 4" new-lawn depth, 12.35 yd³ — would be ordered as 13 yards.
Formula & depth guide
Cubic yards = (sq ft × depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Depth guide:
topdress existing lawn 1/2–1"
seed a new lawn 4–6"
vegetable / garden bed 8–12"
1,000 sq ft × 3" = 250 cu ft = 9.26 yd³
≈ 334 forty-lb bags ≈ 11.1 tonsFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Screened topsoil runs about 1.0–1.4 tons (2,000–2,800 lb) per cubic yard depending on moisture; this calculator uses 1.2 tons as a working average. That's why hauling it yourself rarely pencils out — a half-ton pickup can safely carry only about a third of a yard per trip.
How many 40-lb bags of topsoil make a cubic yard?
A 40-lb bag holds roughly 0.75 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 36 bags to equal one yard. Past about half a yard of soil, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per cubic foot than bags — most suppliers deliver by the full yard with a 1-yard minimum.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Seed or sod a new lawn into at least 4 inches of quality topsoil — 6 inches is better for root depth and drought resistance. Topdressing an existing lawn only takes 1/2 to 1 inch raked in so the grass isn't smothered, while raised vegetable beds want 8–12 inches.
How much topsoil do I need for 1,000 square feet?
At 3 inches deep, 1,000 sq ft needs 250 cubic feet — 9.26 cubic yards, about 334 40-lb bags, or roughly 11 tons delivered. At a 1-inch topdressing the same area takes only about 3.1 yards, which is why nailing down the depth first matters more than the area.