Topsoil Cost Calculator
Planning a lawn, garden bed, or grading project? Enter your area dimensions and topsoil price to calculate the exact cubic yards, tons, or bags needed, plus total material and delivery costs.
Results
Volume first, then the price you were quoted
Topsoil is sold two ways that are hard to compare in your head: by the cubic yard, which is a volume, and by the ton, which is a weight. This calculator handles both, and converts between them using the density you pick.
cu ft = length × width × (depth ÷ 12), then cubic yards = (cu ft ÷ 27) × waste factor, and tons = cubic yards × density.
The default density is 1.1 tons per cubic yard, which is ordinary screened topsoil at normal moisture. Wet soil is heavier, and that matters if you are buying by weight: the same pile of dirt costs more after a rainy week. Buying by volume sidesteps the problem entirely, which is one reason yards is the more common unit for garden soil.
| Area | Cubic yards | Tons | Bags (0.75 cu ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 1.02 | 1.12 | 37 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 4.07 | 4.48 | 147 |
| 50 × 20 ft | 10.19 | 11.20 | 367 |
| Quarter acre | 110.92 | 122.01 | 3,994 |
Bags cost about four times what bulk costs
One cubic yard is 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet. At a typical $4 per bag that is $144 of soil, against roughly $35 for the same yard delivered in bulk — before the bagged version has been carried from the car.
| Project | Volume | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
| A few containers or a small repair | Under 0.25 yd | Bags |
| One raised bed | 0.5 to 1 yd | Either; bags if access is hard |
| Several beds, lawn patching | 1 to 3 yd | Bulk, even with the delivery fee |
| New lawn or regrading | 3 yd and up | Bulk, clearly |
Delivery is the reason the crossover is not lower. Most yards charge a flat fee, commonly $50 to $150 regardless of load size, so one yard delivered carries the whole fee while ten yards spread it thin. The calculator adds the fee once, which is how it is actually billed.
Depth is the number worth getting right
Depth drives the total more than area does, because it multiplies through everything. Doubling a 3-inch layer to 6 inches doubles the cost, and it is an easy decision to make casually while ordering.
| Use | Depth |
|---|---|
| Topdressing an existing lawn | 0.25 to 0.5 in |
| Seeding or sodding a new lawn | 3 to 6 in |
| Vegetable or flower beds | 8 to 12 in |
| Raised bed, filled entirely | Full bed depth |
The settling allowance exists because delivered soil is loose and full of air. Once it is watered in or rolled, it drops appreciably — 10% is a reasonable default and 15% is safer on a bed you intend to plant immediately.
What this estimate does not include
The total covers soil and the delivery fee. It does not cover:
- Spreading. Bulk soil arrives as one pile at the end of the driveway. Ten yards is a substantial wheelbarrow job, and hiring it out can rival the material cost.
- Amendments. Screened topsoil is a base, not a finished growing medium. Compost is usually blended in for beds, which adds volume and cost.
- Soil removal. Raising a grade means the old surface has to go somewhere, and hauling it away is a separate charge.
- Quality. Price per yard varies enormously with what is in the soil. Cheap fill dirt is not topsoil; screened loam with organic content costs more for good reason.
Ask what the soil is screened to and whether it has been tested before comparing two quotes on price alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy topsoil in bulk or bags?
Bulk is far cheaper for anything over about a cubic yard. One cubic yard equals 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, which at roughly $4 a bag is about $144, against $35 or so for the same yard in bulk. Bags win only on very small quantities or where a truck cannot reach.
What depth of topsoil do I need for a new lawn?
For laying sod or planting grass seed, a minimum of 3 to 6 inches of rich topsoil is recommended over the compacted native soil.
How much does a truckload of topsoil cost?
Bulk topsoil generally runs $20 to $60 per cubic yard depending on quality and region, plus a flat delivery fee of about $50 to $150. A typical single-axle truck carries around 5 to 10 cubic yards, so a full load often lands between $200 and $600 delivered.
Should I buy topsoil by the yard or by the ton?
By the yard, when you have a choice. A cubic yard is a fixed volume, but a ton of soil varies with moisture — the same dirt weighs more after rain, so you get less of it for the same money. If a supplier only quotes tons, divide by about 1.1 to convert to cubic yards for comparison.