Worked example: 6 inches deep
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 10 ft × 20 ft | 200 sq ft |
| Volume at 6 in | 200 × 6 ÷ 12 | 100.0 ft³ |
| Add 10% for settling | 100.0 × 1.10 | 110.0 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 110.0 ÷ 27 | 4.07 yd³ |
| Tons | 4.07 × 1.1 | 4.48 tons |
| 0.75 ft³ bags (40 lb) | 110.0 ÷ 0.75 | 147 bags |
| 1.5 ft³ bags | 110.0 ÷ 1.5 | 74 bags |
Topsoil by depth
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards (+10%) | Tons | Bulk order (yd³) | Delivered | 0.75 ft³ bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 66.7 | 2.72 | 2.99 | 3.0 | $180 | 98 |
| 6 in | 100.0 | 4.07 | 4.48 | 4.5 | $232 | 147 |
| 8 in | 133.3 | 5.43 | 5.98 | 5.5 | $268 | 196 |
| 12 in | 200.0 | 8.15 | 8.96 | 8.5 | $372 | 294 |
Bulk delivery is cheaper at 6 inches: $478 in 0.75 ft³ bags versus $232 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 10×10 garden , 4×8 garden, or the topsoil size chart. Open the topsoil calculator to change the size.