Soil Calculator

Steps to Measure for Soil

Adding soil can be a substantial investment in time and money. To minimize work and expense, follow these instructions for getting the right amount of soil that you need.

• Using a tape measure, measure the length and width of the area(s) you want to fill. It’s best to write these numbers down.
• If the space is complex, break the area into smaller, regularly shaped sections, like in the diagram below. Then measure each section separately.
• Decide on the depth of the new soil that you want. For refreshing gardens, usually, 3-6 inches (76-152 mm) of new soil is sufficient. If you have a hard border or a raised bed, measure the depth of the partition. Remember that soil will settle, so be a little generous with this measurement.
• By far, the easiest way to calculate quantities is to use the soil calculator above! Enter your measurements, hit calculate, and it’s all worked out for you: cubic feet, yards, even the number of bags. And metric too.

Sometimes topsoil and compost are sold by weight, which varies depending on what the material is. In the US, a 40-pound bag measures between 0.5 and 0.75 cubic feet. The soil calculator bag estimation is based on 0.75 cubic feet per bag.

Steps to Calculate Soil Volume

If you want to do the calculations by hand, then skip Step 4 above, and do the following:

• Make sure all measurements are in the same units (usually inches or centimeters). The following calculation will use inches as an example to translate into cubic feet.
• Multiply your length, width, and depth in inches together to find your total cubic inches (length × width × depth). Divide this by 1,728 to find the volume in cubic feet.
• If you’re measuring multiple sections, add the volumes for each together.
• The result is the minimum volume of soil required for your project. You will need to figure the number of bags depending on what size you buy.

No matter how you get your total, you should consider buying in bulk by the cubic yard (or cubic meter) if you need a lot of material. The calculator above provides this volume for you.

For hand calculators, divide your total cubic feet by 27 (3×3×3) to get cubic yards.

Be sure to check your calculations and confirm your measurements using a cubic yards calculator. Give this number to your supplier, who will usually deliver the soil to your location for a small fee.

Calculate the Total Weight

Once you know the density and total volume, use the following formula to calculate how much soil you need in tons.

Thus, the amount of soil needed in tons is equal to the volume in yards times the density.

You might also be interested in our stone and sand calculators for more landscaping material estimates.