Measure the new layer
Use the depth of soil you want to add above the present ground. Do not count soil already there. For a patch with uneven depths, calculate each depth separately; the parts in this worksheet all share one depth.
Split an irregular outline into shapes that do not overlap. The triangle’s height is measured straight across from its base, at a right angle, rather than along a sloping side.
What a yard of topsoil weighs
Two suppliers publish 2,200 and 2,600 lb per cubic yard for their screened topsoil, and wet soil weighs more. Sands and Soils says most standard pickups, or a single-axle 5 × 8 trailer, can hold one yard of it because of the weight. The calculator shows the weight for the product you choose and how many wheelbarrow loads and vehicle trips that makes.
Order by volume
For bags, enter the cubic feet printed on the label. A bag’s weight cannot establish its volume: soil texture and moisture change the relationship. Bulk minimums and delivery charges can change the order; the soil quote guide explains what to compare.
How much extra to order
None of the extension services we cite gives a percentage to add when spreading topsoil, so the field starts at zero. To fill a raised bed, Frame It All, a raised-bed maker, adds 10 percent to its own soil calculator for settling; the raised bed soil calculator offers the same 10 percent with one click.
Choose the soil for the place it is going
A layer over garden soil and a planter on paving are different jobs. Read the soil and site preparation guidance before choosing a growing mix. If walls contain the fill, use inside raised-bed measurements. When the ground is ready for a new lawn, the sod calculator or the grass seed calculator takes the same area.