Cubic yards, tons and bags — for lawns, raised beds, filling holes and leveling low spots.
volume (ft³) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 cubic yards = volume ÷ 27 tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.1 (dry, screened)
Order slightly over — soil settles 10–20% after spreading and watering, so a "4 inch" layer needs closer to 4½–5 inches loose. For grading against a foundation, always slope away from the house (a 6 ft run dropping 3–4 inches is the usual target).
| Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 1″ | 324 sq ft |
| 2″ | 162 sq ft |
| 4″ | 81 sq ft |
| 6″ | 54 sq ft |
| 12″ | 27 sq ft |
Seed needs 4–6 inches of quality topsoil to root well. A 1,000 sq ft lawn at 4 inches needs about 12.3 cubic yards. For topdressing an existing lawn, ½ inch (1.5 yd³ per 1,000 sq ft) is plenty per application.
Dry topsoil runs about 1.0–1.1 tons per cubic yard; moist screened topsoil 1.2–1.3 tons. A standard pickup safely hauls about half a yard to one yard — bulk delivery is the practical option beyond 2 yards.
Bagged topsoil is typically 0.75 or 1 cu ft. One cubic yard (27 cu ft) equals 36 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 27 bags of 1 cu ft — which is why bulk beats bags for anything bigger than a planter.
Most vegetables want 12 inches of soil depth; salad greens manage with 6–8. A 4×8 ft bed filled 12 inches deep takes 32 cu ft — about 1.2 cubic yards.
Topsoil is screened natural earth — good for filling, grading and lawns. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and amendments for planting directly into. Fill deep with cheaper topsoil, then finish the top layer with garden mix.
Cubic yards and bags of mulch for any bed size and depth.
Tons and cubic yards of gravel for driveways and paths.
Posts, rails, pickets and concrete for any fence run.
Convert rise/run to pitch, angle and rafter length — with a live diagram.