Topsoil
How Much Soil Is in a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard of soil is 27 cubic feet — about 202 US gallons or 765 liters. It fills 27 bags of 1 cu ft and covers 324 square feet 1 inch deep.
By Kumar Baniya, MEng in Structural Engineering (University of Leeds) · Published
How much soil is in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard of soil is 27 cubic feet — a 3 × 3 × 3 ft cube. That is 765 liters or 202.0 US gallons of space. “A yard of dirt” from a supplier means the same cubic yard.
How many bags of soil make a cubic yard?
Divide 27 by the cubic feet printed on the bag and round up:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 36 |
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 14 |
Bags sold by weight (for example “40 lb”) still state a volume on the label — use that, because the weight changes with moisture.
How much area does a yard of topsoil cover?
| Depth | Square feet per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 |
| 2 in | 162 |
| 4 in | 81 |
| 6 in | 54 |
| 12 in | 27 |
Depths are examples for the arithmetic. For filling beds or topping up an area, the topsoil calculator uses target minus existing depth.
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
It varies with the soil mix, how wet it is and how compacted it is, so there is no single figure. Ask your supplier for the weight per yard of the product you are buying, then convert with the cubic yards to tons calculator. Why cubic yard weight varies explains the reasons.
How many yards of topsoil for a lawn area?
Multiply the area by the depth and divide by 324. For 1,000 sq ft: 1 in deep needs 3.09 yd³, 2 in needs 6.17 yd³ and 4 in needs 12.35 yd³. The right depth depends on the job — leveling, overseeding or a new lawn — so use your plan or product guidance.
How much soil for a 4 × 8 raised bed?
A 4 × 8 ft bed filled 12 in deep holds 32 ft³ = 1.19 yd³; at 6 in it holds 16 ft³ = 0.59 yd³. Measure the inside of the frame, and use the topsoil calculator for several beds or a top-up.
Related calculations
For containers and water measured in gallons, see how many gallons are in a cubic yard. Moving soil by hand? How many wheelbarrows are in a yard gives the number of loads.