Topsoil & Dirt Calculator

Determine exactly how much topsoil, garden soil, or fill dirt you need in bulk yards or standard 40lb bags.

Soil settles when watered. Add 10-20% extra to ensure your beds don't sink too low.
Total Area 96 Square Feet
Bulk Delivery 1.36 Cubic Yards
Store Bought 49 Bags (40 lbs / 0.75 cu ft)

Buying Topsoil: Bags vs. Bulk

Unlike mulch, which is usually sold in 2 cubic foot bags, topsoil is incredibly heavy. Because of this, hardware stores typically sell soil in 40-pound bags, which only contain about 0.75 Cubic Feet of dirt.

  • The Math: It takes exactly 36 standard 40lb bags of topsoil to equal just ONE cubic yard of bulk dirt.
  • Compaction: Soil is full of air pockets when it is poured out of a bag or dumped from a truck. After the first heavy rain, those air pockets collapse and the soil level drops. Always add a 15% to 20% compaction factor so you aren't left with a sunken garden bed.
  • Cost Efficiency: Because it takes so many bags to make a yard, buying bulk topsoil from a local landscape supplier is almost always significantly cheaper for any project requiring more than 1 Cubic Yard.