Dirt and Topsoil Calculator
Calculate exactly how much dirt, soil, or mulch you need for your landscaping project.
Starting a new landscaping project? Whether you are building raised garden beds, leveling out your lawn, or putting down a fresh layer of topsoil, buying the wrong amount of dirt can be a massive headache. If you buy too little, you have to pay for a second delivery. If you buy too much, you are stuck shoveling the excess into your wheelbarrow to get it out of your driveway!
Our free Dirt Calculator (also known as a Topsoil Calculator) solves the math for you. Simply select your shape, input your measurements, and the tool will instantly tell you exactly how many Cubic Yards of dirt you need to order. It even estimates the total weight in tons and calculates your total cost!
How to Use the Calculator
We designed this tool to handle mixed units seamlessly, meaning you can enter your length in feet but enter your depth in inches without having to convert anything in your head.
- Select Your Shape: Click the tabs at the top to choose between a standard “Rectangular Area” (for square gardens and lawns) or a “Circular Area” (for fire pits, tree rings, and round planters).
- Enter Dimensions: Measure the Length and Width (or Diameter) of your project space.
- Determine the Depth: How thick do you want the dirt to be? For new garden beds, 6 to 12 inches is standard. For lawn leveling, 1 to 2 inches is typically enough.
- Enter Price (Optional): If you know how much your local landscaping company charges per cubic yard, enter it here to instantly calculate your total bill.
- Hit Calculate: Instantly view your required cubic yards, cubic feet, and total weight.
How Do You Calculate Cubic Yards?
Landscaping companies and home improvement stores sell bulk dirt, gravel, and mulch by the Cubic Yard. A cubic yard is a block of material that measures 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep (which equals exactly 27 cubic feet).
To calculate cubic yards yourself, you must convert all of your measurements into feet first:
- Multiply Length × Width × Depth to find the total Cubic Feet.
- Divide your Cubic Feet by 27 to find the Cubic Yards.
Example: You want to build a raised garden bed that is 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 6 inches deep.
- Convert 6 inches into feet: 6 / 12 = 0.5 feet.
- Multiply L × W × D: 10 × 5 × 0.5 = 25 Cubic Feet.
- Convert to Yards: 25 / 27 = 0.92 Cubic Yards.
(Note: Always round up and order 10% extra to account for the dirt settling and compacting!)
How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Dirt Weigh?
If you are picking up the dirt yourself in a pickup truck or trailer, weight is a massive factor. Dirt is incredibly heavy, and overloading a truck can cause severe damage to your suspension and tyres.
While the exact weight depends heavily on moisture content and the specific blend of the soil, here are the standard industry estimates:
- Topsoil (Dry): ~2,000 lbs per cubic yard (1 US Ton)
- Topsoil (Wet): ~2,500 to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard (1.25 to 1.5 US Tons)
- Fill Dirt (Rocky/Compacted): ~2,200 to 2,600 lbs per cubic yard
- Potting Soil / Compost: ~1,000 to 1,500 lbs per cubic yard (Much lighter due to organic matter)
Important: A standard half-ton pickup truck (like a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado 1500) can usually only safely haul about 1.5 to 2 cubic yards of dry topsoil at a time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many bags of soil are in a cubic yard?
Most standard bags of soil or mulch sold at stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s contain 2 cubic feet of material. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, you would need to buy 14 bags of soil to equal a single cubic yard (27 / 2 = 13.5).
Should I buy bagged dirt or bulk dirt?
If your calculation says you need less than 1 cubic yard, buying individual bags is usually cheaper and much easier to transport. If you need more than 2 cubic yards, scheduling a bulk delivery from a local landscape supply yard is almost always significantly cheaper.
What is the difference between Topsoil and Fill Dirt?
Topsoil is the nutrient-rich, dark upper layer of the earth. It contains organic matter and is specifically sifted for growing grass, plants, and vegetables. Fill Dirt is dug from deeper in the earth; it is rocky, sandy, and contains very few nutrients. Fill dirt is strictly used for filling in massive holes, leveling foundations, or building retaining walls where you don’t intend to grow anything.