Worked example: 6 inches deep
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 10 ft × 10 ft | 100 sq ft |
| Volume at 6 in | 100 × 6 ÷ 12 | 50.0 ft³ |
| Add 10% for settling | 50.0 × 1.10 | 55.0 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 55.0 ÷ 27 | 2.04 yd³ |
| Tons | 2.04 × 1.1 | 2.24 tons |
| 0.75 ft³ bags (40 lb) | 55.0 ÷ 0.75 | 74 bags |
| 1.5 ft³ bags | 55.0 ÷ 1.5 | 37 bags |
Topsoil by depth
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards (+10%) | Tons | Bulk order (yd³) | Delivered | 0.75 ft³ bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 33.3 | 1.36 | 1.49 | 1.5 | $128 | 49 |
| 6 in | 50.0 | 2.04 | 2.24 | 2.5 | $162 | 74 |
| 8 in | 66.7 | 2.72 | 2.99 | 3.0 | $180 | 98 |
| 12 in | 100.0 | 4.07 | 4.48 | 4.5 | $232 | 147 |
Bulk delivery is cheaper at 6 inches: $240 in 0.75 ft³ bags versus $162 delivered. A cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 1.1 tons dry and more when wet, so check your truck or trailer limit.
Prices used: 0.75 ft³ bag $3.25, 1.5 ft³ bag $6.50; bulk topsoil $35/yd³ plus $75 delivery (1 yd³ minimum).
Vegetable and flower beds are commonly filled 6 to 12 inches deep, often with a mix of topsoil and compost rather than topsoil alone. See raised bed soil.
Nearby sizes
Also see 4×8 garden , 10×20 garden, or the topsoil size chart. Open the topsoil calculator to change the size.