Whether you are backfilling a retaining wall with bulk fill dirt, top-dressing a lawn before laying turf, or filling raised garden beds, ordering soil requires converting length, width, and depth into cubic yards (yd³), cubic metres (m³), tons, or bag counts.
To calculate soil volume, multiply your area by your target depth using consistent units:
Cubic Yards (yd³) = [Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Depth (in) ÷ 12)] ÷ 27
Cubic Metres (m³) = Length (m) × Width (m) × (Depth (mm) ÷ 1,000)
The Chippy Tools Soil Calculator runs these calculations offline on iOS and Android—allowing you to mix feet, inches, metres, and millimetres in a single entry and automatically adding a 10% allowance for soil settling and compaction.
Quick Reference Table 1: Soil Volume for Raised Garden Beds
Use this table to find the exact cubic feet (ft³), cubic yards (yd³), litres (L), and bag counts needed for standard raised-bed sizes:
| Raised Bed Size | Bed Depth | Volume (Cubic Feet) | Volume (Cubic Yards) | Metric Volume (Litres / m³) | 1.5 ft³ Bags (US) | 2.0 ft³ Bags (US) | 25 L Bags (AU/UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft (1.2 × 1.2 m) | 6 in (150 mm) | 8.0 ft³ | 0.30 yd³ | 227 L (0.23 m³) | 6 bags | 4 bags | 9 bags |
| 4 × 4 ft (1.2 × 1.2 m) | 12 in (300 mm) | 16.0 ft³ | 0.59 yd³ | 453 L (0.45 m³) | 11 bags | 8 bags | 19 bags |
| 4 × 8 ft (1.2 × 2.4 m) | 6 in (150 mm) | 16.0 ft³ | 0.59 yd³ | 453 L (0.45 m³) | 11 bags | 8 bags | 19 bags |
| 4 × 8 ft (1.2 × 2.4 m) | 10 in (250 mm) | 26.7 ft³ | 0.99 yd³ | 755 L (0.76 m³) | 18 bags | 14 bags | 31 bags |
| 4 × 8 ft (1.2 × 2.4 m) | 12 in (300 mm) | 32.0 ft³ | 1.19 yd³ | 906 L (0.91 m³) | 22 bags | 16 bags | 37 bags |
| 4 × 8 ft (1.2 × 2.4 m) | 18 in (450 mm) | 48.0 ft³ | 1.78 yd³ | 1,359 L (1.36 m³) | 32 bags | 24 bags | 55 bags |
| 4 × 12 ft (1.2 × 3.6 m) | 12 in (300 mm) | 48.0 ft³ | 1.78 yd³ | 1,359 L (1.36 m³) | 32 bags | 24 bags | 55 bags |
| 3 × 6 ft (0.9 × 1.8 m) | 12 in (300 mm) | 18.0 ft³ | 0.67 yd³ | 510 L (0.51 m³) | 12 bags | 9 bags | 21 bags |
Note: Loose potting mix and organic garden soil settle by 10% to 15% after the first few waterings. Add 10% extra if you want the soil level flush with the top rim of the bed.
Quick Reference Table 2: Bulk Topsoil Coverage for Lawns & Grading
When top-dressing a lawn, laying sod/turf, or grading a yard, suppliers deliver topsoil by the cubic yard (yd³) or cubic metre (m³). Here is how much volume you need by area and depth (including a +10% compaction allowance in parentheses):
| Area (Sq Ft / m²) | 1" Deep (25 mm) Top-Dress | 2" Deep (50 mm) Sod Prep | 4" Deep (100 mm) New Lawn | 6" Deep (150 mm) Garden Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 sq ft (~23 m²) | 0.77 yd³ (0.85 yd³) | 1.54 yd³ (1.70 yd³) | 3.09 yd³ (3.40 yd³) | 4.63 yd³ (5.09 yd³) |
| 500 sq ft (~46 m²) | 1.54 yd³ (1.70 yd³) | 3.09 yd³ (3.40 yd³) | 6.17 yd³ (6.79 yd³) | 9.26 yd³ (10.19 yd³) |
| 1,000 sq ft (~93 m²) | 3.09 yd³ (3.40 yd³) | 6.17 yd³ (6.79 yd³) | 12.35 yd³ (13.58 yd³) | 18.52 yd³ (20.37 yd³) |
| 2,500 sq ft (~232 m²) | 7.72 yd³ (8.49 yd³) | 15.43 yd³ (16.98 yd³) | 30.86 yd³ (33.95 yd³) | 46.30 yd³ (50.93 yd³) |
| 5,000 sq ft (~465 m²) | 15.43 yd³ (16.98 yd³) | 30.86 yd³ (33.95 yd³) | 61.73 yd³ (67.90 yd³) | 92.59 yd³ (101.85 yd³) |
| 50 m² (Metric) | 1.25 m³ (1.38 m³) | 2.50 m³ (2.75 m³) | 5.00 m³ (5.50 m³) | 7.50 m³ (8.25 m³) |
| 100 m² (Metric) | 2.50 m³ (2.75 m³) | 5.00 m³ (5.50 m³) | 10.00 m³ (11.00 m³) | 15.00 m³ (16.50 m³) |
Calculate Soil Volume & Bag Counts on Site
Download Chippy Tools on iOS or Android to calculate soil, gravel, and concrete volumes in metric or imperial—100% offline.
Soil Density & Weight Guide (Converting Volume to Tons / Tonnes)
If your landscape yard sells bulk fill dirt or loam by the ton (or metric tonne) instead of by volume, or if you need to check whether your utility trailer or ute can haul the load, use these standard bulk densities (see our full guide on How Much Does a Cubic Yard Weigh?):
| Soil / Amendment Type | Weight per Cubic Foot | Weight per Cubic Yard (Dry / Wet) | US Tons per Cubic Yard | Metric Density (Tonnes per m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potting Mix / Bark Compost | 30 – 45 lb/ft³ | 800 – 1,200 lb / 1,500 lb | 0.40 – 0.60 tons | 0.48 – 0.72 t/m³ |
| Screened Topsoil / Loam | 52 – 75 lb/ft³ | 1,400 – 2,000 lb / 2,500 lb | 0.70 – 1.00 tons | 0.85 – 1.20 t/m³ |
| Sandy Soil | 80 – 95 lb/ft³ | 2,160 – 2,565 lb / 3,000 lb | 1.08 – 1.28 tons | 1.30 – 1.52 t/m³ |
| Fill Dirt / Subsoil | 75 – 100 lb/ft³ | 2,000 – 2,700 lb / 3,200 lb | 1.00 – 1.35 tons | 1.20 – 1.60 t/m³ |
| Excavated Clay Soil | 80 – 105 lb/ft³ | 2,150 – 2,800 lb / 3,400 lb | 1.08 – 1.40 tons | 1.28 – 1.66 t/m³ |
Worked Examples (Imperial & Metric)
Imperial Example: Topsoil for a 25 ft × 40 ft Lawn at 3 Inches Deep
- Convert depth from inches to feet:
3 in ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft - Calculate volume in cubic feet:
25 ft × 40 ft × 0.25 ft = 250 ft³ - Convert to cubic yards:
250 ÷ 27= 9.26 yd³ net - Add 10% compaction allowance:
9.26 × 1.10= 10.19 yd³ (order 10 to 10.5 cubic yards of screened topsoil, weighing roughly 7.5 to 10 tons).
Metric Example: Garden Bed 8 m × 1.5 m at 250 mm Deep
- Convert depth from millimetres to metres:
250 mm ÷ 1,000 = 0.25 m - Calculate volume in cubic metres:
8 m × 1.5 m × 0.25 m= 3.00 m³ (3,000 litres) - Add 10% settling allowance:
3.00 × 1.10= 3.30 m³ (order 3.3 cubic metres bulk, or3,000 ÷ 25= 120 bags of 25 L garden mix).
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