top soil calculator

Enter the length, width and depth of each area. The calculator multiplies them to get the volume, adds your allowance for waste, settling and compaction, then shows the result in cubic yards or cubic metres, along with weight, truckloads, bags and cost. Add a section for each separate area, and tick Subtract for ponds, paths or buildings.

Use this how much dirt do I need calculator by entering the area and the depth you want to fill. By hand, length x width x depth in feet divided by 27 gives cubic yards. For example, a 10 ft x 10 ft area filled 6 inches deep is 10 x 10 x 0.5 = 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards. In metres, length x width x depth gives cubic metres.

Measure the area and the depth of the hole or low spot, then enter them in the fill dirt calculator. If the fill will be compacted in layers, add 15 to 25 percent in the compaction box, because loose dirt shrinks when it is packed down. Fill dirt is usually heavier than topsoil, so choose the heavy or custom density for a better weight and truckload estimate.

Fill dirt is usually subsoil used to raise or level ground and to fill holes. It has little organic matter, so it is not meant for growing plants. Topsoil is the darker, organic-rich layer used for lawns, gardens and planting beds. A common approach is to level with fill dirt and finish with a layer of topsoil.

Choose feet or yards for the length and width and inches for the depth. The result appears in cubic yards, and one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet or about 0.765 cubic metres. You can switch any measurement between feet, inches, yards, metres and centimetres, so you can mix units.

One cubic yard of topsoil covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, and 54 square feet at 6 inches deep. For your own job, enter the size and depth in this top soil calculator and it gives the cubic yards directly. Suppliers usually sell topsoil by the cubic yard in the US, and by the tonne or cubic metre in the UK.

Measure the inside length, width and soil depth of the bed. A 4 ft x 8 ft raised bed filled 12 inches deep needs 32 cubic feet, about 1.2 cubic yards. A 1.2 m x 2.4 m bed filled 30 cm deep needs about 0.86 cubic metres. Use one section per bed, or the Quantity box for identical beds, and add a little extra for settling. Many gardeners fill beds with a mix of topsoil and compost rather than topsoil alone.

Order about 10 percent extra for waste and settling on most jobs. Use 15 to 25 percent for compaction if the soil will be rolled or packed in layers, and allow more again for uneven or sloping ground. Ordering a little too much is usually cheaper than paying for a second delivery.

Topsoil weighs roughly 2,000 to 2,400 pounds per cubic yard, which is about 1.2 to 1.4 tonnes per cubic metre, depending on moisture and type. Truck sizes vary widely, from small tippers carrying a few cubic yards to large trucks carrying 18 or more, so ask your supplier for the real capacity. Enter your truck size in the calculator to see how many loads you need.

Yes. Split the area into simple shapes such as rectangles, circles and triangles, add a section for each, and the calculator adds them together. For a pond, path or building inside the area, add it as a section and tick Subtract. Each section can have its own depth.