CROCODILIAN
Topsoil calculator

Topsoil calculator

Area and depth to cubic yards and tons of screened topsoil — with the weight shown as a published, moisture-honest range.

Area shape
ft
ft
in
$

Pre-filled example: a 10 × 10 ft area at 3 inches. Tons use a typical 2,000 lb/yd³ within the published 1,700–2,600 range.

Area
100 ft²
Volume
25.0 ft³
You need
0.93cubic yards
Order (rounded up)1.00 yd³
Weight (approx.)0.93 tonsrange 0.79–1.20 t (moisture)
Estimates for planning — confirm quantities with your supplier.
Real-world quantities vary with moisture, compaction, cuts, and site conditions. These calculators use standard formulas and published constants (see the About page for sources); order with a sensible allowance and confirm with your supplier or contractor.

Why the weight is a range

Topsoil is mostly mineral particles, water, and air. The water fraction changes week to week, so the same yard of soil can weigh hundreds of pounds more after rain: published tables list dry soil at 2,025 lb/yd³ and wet at 2,106 (LA County volume-to-weight factors), while loose dry earth runs 1,890 and damp packed earth 2,592 on the classic construction chart. If a supplier quotes by the ton, use the wetter end of the range so the delivered volume doesn’t come up short.

Buying for raised beds or mixing with compost? The soil calculator adds bag-count outputs for the common 1, 1.5, and 2 cubic-foot bags.

Quick reference

Coverage and weight of 1 cubic yard of topsoil
Depth1 yd³ coversTypical weightPublished range
2"162 ft²1.0 ton0.85–1.3 tons
4"81 ft²1.0 ton0.85–1.3 tons
6"54 ft²1.0 ton0.85–1.3 tons

Weight range spans dry-loose to damp-packed published figures (1,700–2,600 lb/yd³). Sources on the About page.

Frequently asked questions