Calculate how much soil you need to fill a garden bed or raised bed.
Mix breakdown
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Usage Tip
A blend of about two-thirds topsoil to one-third compost gives a good base for most raised vegetable beds.
For raised beds, measure the inside dimensions and the fill height you actually want.
How much soil do I need?
Soil is sold by volume, so the amount you need is the area times the depth. Work in feet: a bed that is length times width times depth (in feet) gives cubic feet, and dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. A 4 by 8 ft raised bed filled 10 in deep needs about 27 cubic feet, or one cubic yard — roughly thirteen 2 cubic foot bags. This calculator converts your beds to cubic feet, cubic yards and bags, compares bagged against bulk, and works out the cost.
Raised bed soil calculator
For a raised bed, multiply length by width by fill depth. Most raised beds are filled 10 to 12 in deep, though you can fill the bottom third with cheaper material or logs. Common bed volumes:
| Raised bed | Soil (10 in deep) |
|---|---|
| 4 x 4 ft | about 0.5 cu yd (13 cu ft) |
| 4 x 8 ft | about 1 cu yd (27 cu ft) |
| 4 x 12 ft | about 1.5 cu yd (40 cu ft) |
A popular raised-bed mix is one third compost, one third coarse vermiculite or aeration, and one third peat or coir.
Topsoil depth guide
| Use | Depth |
|---|---|
| Lawn topdressing | 0.25 to 0.5 in |
| New flower bed | 6 in |
| Vegetable garden | 8 to 12 in |
| Raised bed fill | 10 to 12 in |
| Sod / seed base | 4 to 6 in |
Topdressing a lawn should stay thin — under about half an inch — so you do not smother the grass.
Bag size chart
Bagged soil is sold by the cubic foot. How many bags make a cubic yard:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | about 14 |
| 2.5 cu ft | about 11 |
Bulk vs bagged soil
Bagged soil is convenient and clean for small jobs, but it gets expensive fast. Once you need more than about a cubic yard — roughly 14 of the 2 cubic foot bags — bulk delivery is usually cheaper per yard and saves a lot of lifting. Below a yard, bags usually win on convenience.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of soil in a cubic yard?
27 of the 1 cubic foot bags, about 14 of the 2 cubic foot bags, or 36 of the 0.75 cubic foot bags.
How much soil for a 4x8 raised bed?
About 1 cubic yard at 10 in deep, or roughly 13 of the 2 cubic foot bags.
Is bulk or bagged soil cheaper?
Bulk is usually cheaper once you need more than about a cubic yard. Bagged is easier for small jobs.
How deep should garden soil be?
6 in for flower beds, 8 to 12 in for vegetables, and 10 to 12 in to fill a raised bed.
Should I account for settling?
Yes. Fresh soil settles, so add about 5 to 10 percent extra and top up after the first watering.
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?
Topsoil is general-purpose screened soil; garden soil is amended with compost and nutrients for planting; potting mix is soilless and made for containers.
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Estimates are for planning. Soil settles and bag volumes vary by brand and moisture; order a little extra for settling and topping up, and confirm bulk pricing and delivery minimums with your supplier.