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The professional’s choice for accurate soil, mulch, and compost estimation. Save money with precise material calculations.
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The Ultimate Guide to Calculating Soil Volume
Planning a garden renovation or a construction project starts with accuracy. Ordering too little soil disrupts your workflow, while ordering too much wastes valuable budget. Our Professional Soil Calculator leverages standard engineering formulas to give you precise estimates.
How to Measure Your Project
- Step 1: Determine the Shape. Most garden beds are rectangular. For curved borders, try to estimate the nearest rectangle or use our Circle tool for round planters.
- Step 2: Measure Length & Width. Use a tape measure to get the dimensions in feet. Precision matters—measure twice!
- Step 3: Decide on Depth. This is crucial. For new lawns, 4-6 inches is standard. For raised vegetable beds, you may need 12-24 inches.
The Math Formula
If you prefer to check the math yourself, here is the formula we use for rectangular volumes:
Volume (Cubic Yards) = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27
For example, a 10ft × 10ft garden with 3 inches (0.25 ft) of soil:
10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet.
25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 Cubic Yards.
Understanding Soil & Material Types
Not all ground coverage is created equal. The density of the material affects delivery logistics and settlement.
| Material | Typical Density (kg/m³) | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 1,200 – 1,600 | Lawns, grading, flower bed base. |
| Compost | 500 – 600 | Amendments, nutrient boosting. |
| Mulch (Bark) | 400 | Weed suppression, moisture. |
| Gravel / Sand | 1,500 – 1,700 | Drainage, structural base. |
Pro Tip: Topsoil and compost can settle by up to 20% after watering. Experts recommend ordering 10-20% more than your calculated volume to account for this compaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags of soil are in a cubic yard? +
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. Most standard soil bags sold at home improvement stores are 0.75 cubic feet (40 lbs). Therefore, you need about 36 bags to equal one cubic yard.
What is the difference between Topsoil and Garden Soil? +
Topsoil is the upper layer of natural soil, often screened to remove rocks. It’s great for grading. Garden soil is typically topsoil enriched with compost and organic matter, optimized for vegetables and flowers.
How deep should soil be for a raised bed? +
For most vegetables, 12 inches is sufficient. However, deep-rooting crops like carrots or potatoes benefit from 18-24 inches of loose, high-quality soil.
Does the calculator account for compaction? +
Our calculator provides the “loose” volume. We recommend adding a safety margin (10-15%) for compaction, especially if you are using fluffy materials like compost or peat moss.
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