Topsoil calculator
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 cubic yards of topsoil, about 0.99 tons at 1,600 lb per cubic yard. The calculator uses 1,600 lb per cubic yard (New Mexico EMNRD).
0 uses the published 1,600 lb/yd³
Optional; 0 leaves cost out
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 cubic yards of topsoil, about 0.99 tons at 1,600 lb per cubic yard.
- Cubic yards
- 1.23
- Cubic feet
- 33.3
- Tons
- 0.99
- Pounds
- 1,975
- Tons at the published range, same condition
- 0.99–1.48
- Rounded up to the next half yard
- 1.5 yd³
How it is calculated
- Area = 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft.
- Volume = 100 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 = 33.33 cu ft.
- Cubic yards = 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.235 yd³.
- Weight = 1.235 yd³ × 1,600 lb/yd³ = 1,975 lb; ÷ 2,000 lb per ton = 0.99 tons.
How to calculate topsoil in cubic yards and tons
The worked numbers use the calculator's defaults: a 10 ft by 10 ft area 4 inches deep, the calculator's default depth for topsoil.
Step 1: area in square feet
Rectangle: length × width
Circle: π × diameter² ÷ 4
Triangle: base × height ÷ 2
Example 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft
Split an irregular area into rectangles, circles and triangles and add their areas.
Step 2: cubic feet from area and depth
Cubic feet = area in sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 12
Example 100 × 4 ÷ 12 = 33.33 cu ft
Step 3: cubic yards from cubic feet
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Example 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.235 cubic yards
Step 4: tons from cubic yards
Tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000
Example Topsoil at 1,600 lb per cubic yard (New Mexico EMNRD): 1.235 × 1,600 ÷ 2,000 = 0.99 tons
Topsoil for common areas
| Area, sq ft | 4 inches deep | 6 inches deep |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.62 yd³ · 0.49 t | 0.93 yd³ · 0.74 t |
| 100 | 1.23 yd³ · 0.99 t | 1.85 yd³ · 1.48 t |
| 200 | 2.47 yd³ · 1.98 t | 3.7 yd³ · 2.96 t |
| 500 | 6.17 yd³ · 4.94 t | 9.26 yd³ · 7.41 t |
| 1,000 | 12.35 yd³ · 9.88 t | 18.52 yd³ · 14.81 t |
How much does a yard of topsoil cover?
One cubic yard of topsoil covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep; one ton at 1,600 lb per cubic yard covers 101 sq ft at the same depth.
| Depth, in | 1 cubic yard covers, sq ft | 1 ton covers, sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 162 | 203 |
| 3 | 108 | 135 |
| 4 | 81 | 101 |
| 6 | 54 | 68 |
| 8 | 41 | 51 |
- 1 cubic yard
- 1 ton
Recommended topsoil depth by use
Published depths for topsoil run from 4 inches to 6 inches, depending on the use; each row names its document.
| Use | Depth, in | 1 cubic yard covers, sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New lawn, minimum firmed or settled depth of good-quality topsoil | 4–6 | 54–81 | Penn State Extension |
Topsoil weight per cubic yard
Published weights of a cubic yard of topsoil run from 1,600 to 2,392 lb across 2 values from 2 documents, measured in different conditions. The calculators use 1,600 lb per cubic yard (New Mexico EMNRD), because it is the only document that names topsoil; the higher value is loose sandy loam. One ton of topsoil is about 1.25 cubic yards.
| Pounds per cubic yard | 1,600 |
|---|---|
| Published as | “Top Soil”, 0.8 ton/yd³, New Mexico EMNRD; condition: not stated. |
| Published range, same condition, lb | 1,600–2,392 |
| Tons per cubic yard | 0.8 |
| Cubic yards per ton | 1.25 |
Every published value with its source, and tables of weight by volume and yards by tons: Topsoil weight.
Topsoil compared with other soil and dirt
| Material | Condition | Pounds per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dirt | dry, compaction not stated | 2,025 | 0.99 |
| Soil | dry, compaction not stated | 2,025 | 0.99 |
| Topsoil | not stated | 1,600 | 1.25 |
Topsoil questions
How much topsoil do I need?
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 cubic yards of topsoil, about 0.99 tons at 1,600 lb per cubic yard. One cubic yard of topsoil covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep, so divide the area in square feet by 81 for the cubic yards at that depth.
Why the topsoil you need can differ from the result
The weight of topsoil changes with the source, the moisture and how tightly it is packed, so published values differ (here from 1,600 to 2,392 lb per cubic yard across all conditions). Before ordering, ask the supplier for the weight per yard of their own material and enter it as your own density under More options.