Landscaping
Estimate cubic yards of topsoil from rectangular area and planned depth.
Enter the project measurements and product values that control this quantity.
Visual measurement check
Use the prism to keep plan dimensions separate from fill depth before cubic-yard and bag planning. Planning diagram only. Numeric inputs are authoritative; verify field conditions, product instructions and applicable requirements before acting.
Diagram ready. Change a measurement to update this preview.
Project result
Convert surface area and soil depth into cubic yards, cubic meters and bag quantities using your package volume.
At a glance
Planning estimate only. Verify product coverage, package size, supplier specifications and project requirements before purchasing.
Field execution geometry
Use the execution schedule with the live measurement diagram above. Numeric inputs and calculator results remain authoritative; verify field conditions, product instructions, code and structural requirements before construction or cutting.
Budget scenario
Use a current supplier subtotal or reuse a priced calculator result, then add optional delivery, tax and contingency. Home Measure Lab does not fetch or guess live prices.
Enter a current supplier subtotal or reuse a priced calculator result.
Budget values are local planning inputs, not live quotes. Verify tax treatment, delivery, labor and supplier pricing before purchasing.
Choose the right tool
You need general topsoil volume for lawns, grading or a broad landscape area.
Use Garden Bed Soil for a raised/rectangular bed with settling allowance, or Compost for amendment/top-dressing.
Methodology
length × width
Rectangular planning area.
area × depth
Depth is converted from inches to feet.
cubic feet ÷ 27
Shows cubic yards for bulk ordering.
cubic feet ÷ bag volume, rounded up
Enter the actual cubic-foot or liter volume on your soil bag.
Measure the surface area that will receive new soil and choose the finished depth of added material. If you are filling low areas rather than applying a uniform layer, split the project into sections with different average depths.
Loose soil can settle after placement and moisture affects delivered weight. Bulk suppliers usually sell by cubic yard or cubic meter; bagged products are labeled by volume. Use volume for planning and avoid assuming a fixed weight conversion across soil blends.
Reference
| Added depth | 1 yd³ covers | Typical planning context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | ~324 sq ft | Light amendment layer. |
| 2 in | ~162 sq ft | Top dressing / minor grade work. |
| 4 in | ~81 sq ft | Deeper bed preparation. |
| 6 in | ~54 sq ft | Substantial new soil layer. |
Questions
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. The calculator uses that exact volume conversion for bulk ordering.
Not reliably without a material-specific bulk density. Soil weight changes with composition, moisture and compaction, so ask the supplier when ordering by weight.
A fractional bag generally cannot cover the remaining volume, so the purchase quantity rounds to the next whole package.
Planning guides
Landscaping
Convert lawn or garden area and a chosen topsoil depth into cubic yards or bags without treating one depth as correct for every project.
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