Topsoil Calculator
Topsoil Calculator works out Area covered and Depth from Material, Density from your supplier and What you are starting from. The default figures on this page give volume of 1.1852 yd3; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
7 steps
- Area = 8 ft x 4 ft = 32 sq ft
- Depth = 12 in = 1 ft
- Volume = 32 x 1 = 32 cu ft = 1.1852 cu yd
- Density = 67.164 lb/ft3 (70% EPA table: Soil/sandy loam, loose - 1 cubic yard - 2,392 lb (Tellus); 2392/27 = 88.593 + 30% EPA table: Compost, loose - 1 cubic yard - 463.39 lb (Tellus); 463.39/27 = 17.163)
- Weight = 32 x 67.164 = 2149.2 lb = 1.075 US short tons
- Blend split: 0.8296 cu yd of the base material plus 0.3556 cu yd blended in (EPA table: Compost, loose - 1 cubic yard - 463.39 lb (Tellus); 463.39/27 = 17.163)
- Bags = ceil(32 cu ft / 1.5 cu ft) = 22
Figures from bulk material densities, checked 31 August 2026. Its 9 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed · how reference data is kept current
Sources and references
4 sources
Keep this result
Save it, change one figure, then compare the two
The calculation stays free. Save this scenario, adjust one assumption, save that too, and put them side by side to see exactly what the change costs you. A free account keeps 5 scenarios and 2 comparisons; Personal makes both unlimited and adds exports and private links. Nothing is saved unless you press Save.
What the Topsoil Calculator calculates
Converts a covered area and spread depth - or a known tonnage, or a measured stockpile - into the volume of gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch, compost or decorative stone required, in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic metres, bags, tons and tonnes, with a soil-blend split and cost by the yard, the ton or the bag.
How to use this Topsoil Calculator
Enter Material, Density from your supplier, What you are starting from and Weight you have or are buying. Area covered updates as you type. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Area covered, Depth and Volume.
The method follows U.S. EPA, Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (loose bulk densities for gravel, sand, stone, soil, wood chips and compost), ASTM C29/C29M, Standard Test Method for Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate, NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (exact ft-to-m and lb-to-kg conversions) and Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Tech Spec 2: Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (1 in / 25 mm screeded bedding sand course).
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Area covered, Depth and Volume. The inputs you can vary are Material, Density from your supplier, What you are starting from, Weight you have or are buying, Shape of the pile and Base diameter / width of the pile.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
How much will a 40 lb bag of topsoil cover?
On the figures this page opens with — length 20, width 10, depth of the layer 4 and extra for compaction, settlement and spillage 0% — the volume is 1.1852 yd3. No single number fits everyone: change any figure above and the answer updates as you type, with each step of the arithmetic beside it.
How many wheelbarrows is 1 yd of topsoil?
It needs Material, Density from your supplier, What you are starting from, Weight you have or are buying, Shape of the pile and Base diameter / width of the pile. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
How much will 2 yards of topsoil cover?
The result gives Area covered, Depth, Volume, Order this much (rounded up to the half yard), Bulk density used and Weight, each labelled with its unit so the figure can be read on its own.
How much area would 1 ton of topsoil cover?
The page opens with worked default figures: volume of 1.1852 yd3. Replace them with your own and every figure updates as you type.
How much area will 1 ton of topsoil cover?
The method comes from U.S. EPA, Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (loose bulk densities for gravel, sand, stone, soil, wood chips and compost), ASTM C29/C29M, Standard Test Method for Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate and NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (exact ft-to-m and lb-to-kg conversions), listed in full under Sources so the figures can be checked against the original.
What information do I need for the Topsoil Calculator?
You need Material, Density from your supplier, What you are starting from, Weight you have or are buying, Shape of the pile, Base diameter / width of the pile, Height of the pile and Length of the straight ridge (windrow only). The page opens with default figures that give volume of 1.1852 yd3, so you can see the scale before entering your own.