Skip to content
RK Calculator
Menu

Soil Calculator

Find how much topsoil or garden soil you need in cubic yards, cubic feet, bags and tons, dry, compacted or wet.

Change the values and press Calculate to work out your own figures.

Length, width and depth

Enter the area's length and width and the depth.

Size of this dimension.
Size of this dimension.
Size of this dimension.
Its typical density is used unless you enter your own below.
Unit of your density.
What your price is for.
From your supplier; overrides the material's typical value.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
For a bag count.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Material
1.02 tons
Volume
0.89 cu yd (24 cu ft, 0.68 m³)
Weight
2,044 lb (0.93 metric tonnes)
Density used
1.15 tons per cu yd (typical; published range 1.0–1.3). Check with your supplier.

You need about 0.89 cubic yards, weighing about 1.02 tons.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. tons = 0.8889 cu yd × 1.15 tons per cu yd

Round area

Enter the diameter and the depth.

Size of this dimension.
Size of this dimension.
Its typical density is used unless you enter your own below.
Unit of your density.
What your price is for.
From your supplier; overrides the material's typical value.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
For a bag count.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Material
0.54 tons
Volume
0.47 cu yd (12.57 cu ft, 0.36 m³)
Weight
1,070 lb (0.49 metric tonnes)
Density used
1.15 tons per cu yd (typical; published range 1.0–1.3). Check with your supplier.

You need about 0.47 cubic yards, weighing about 0.54 tons.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. tons = 0.4654 cu yd × 1.15 tons per cu yd

Area and depth

Enter the area and the depth.

The area to fill.
Size of this dimension.
Its typical density is used unless you enter your own below.
Unit of your density.
What your price is for.
From your supplier; overrides the material's typical value.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
For a bag count.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Material
2.13 tons
Volume
1.85 cu yd (50 cu ft, 1.42 m³)
Weight
4,259 lb (1.93 metric tonnes)
Density used
1.15 tons per cu yd (typical; published range 1.0–1.3). Check with your supplier.

You need about 1.85 cubic yards, weighing about 2.13 tons.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. tons = 1.8519 cu yd × 1.15 tons per cu yd

Volume

Enter a volume you already know.

The volume you have.
Its typical density is used unless you enter your own below.
Unit of your density.
What your price is for.
From your supplier; overrides the material's typical value.
For waste, cuts or compaction; for example 10.
For a bag count.
Price per result unit, for an estimate; prices vary, so use your supplier's.
Result
Material
3.45 tons
Volume
3 cu yd (81 cu ft, 2.29 m³)
Weight
6,900 lb (3.13 metric tonnes)
Density used
1.15 tons per cu yd (typical; published range 1.0–1.3). Check with your supplier.

You need about 3 cubic yards, weighing about 3.45 tons.

Show the working
  1. cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
  2. tons = 3 cu yd × 1.15 tons per cu yd

How to use it

Enter the area's length and width and the depth. Enter the diameter and the depth. Enter the area and the depth. Enter a volume you already know.

Lengths can be decimals, fractions or tape entries such as 12' 6 1/2" (in feet or inches). Prices are optional.

Key facts

cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
bags = volume (or weight) ÷ bag size, rounded up

Densities

Loose material weighs differently with moisture, grading and compaction, so each material shows its typical value and published range; type in your supplier's density for a closer figure.

Questions

How many bags of soil for a 12 × 4 ft bed at 6 in?

24 cubic feet: 32 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 12 of 2 cu ft.

Reviewed by RK Calculator Team. Updated 2026-09-26.

Formulas

cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27 (in feet)
tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
bags = volume (or weight) ÷ bag size, rounded up

Sources

Limitations

  • Material densities are typical values (the midpoint of the commonly published range); real loads vary with moisture, grading and compaction, so check with your supplier or type in their density.
  • Tank results are the geometric volume; real tanks have wall thickness and fittings.

Formula version 0.1.0Reviewed