GoGardenPlan your yard, the easy way

How Many Bags of Topsoil in a Yard?

Bagged topsoil is often 0.75 cubic feet, so a cubic yard is about 36 bags. Use the calculator to size your project.

Common sizes
Shape
Units

Area: 100 sq ft

1.4cubic yards

≈ 49 bags0.75 cu ft each≈ 1.5 tonsby weight

Bulk is usually sold in ½-yard increments with a ~1-yard delivery minimum — round up when you order.

Show the math
  1. Area100 sq ft
  2. Volume100 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 1233.3 cu ft
  3. Cubic yards33.3 cu ft ÷ 271.2 cu yd
  4. + 10% waste1.2 × 1.101.4 cu ydthe amount to buy in bulk, before rounding to bags
  5. Bags36.7 cu ft ÷ 0.75 cu ft/bag49 bagsrounded up to whole bags
  6. Weight1.4 cu yd × 1.1 tons/cu yd1.5 tons

Est. cost $27–$54typical bulk price · adjust for your supplier

Bags or bulk for this job?

Bulk delivered$130–$1702.0 cu yd (2-yd min) + ~$90 delivery
Bags$147–$24549 × 0.75 cu ft · haul ~2 pickup loads

For this size, bulk usually wins. Gravel & soil are heavy — a half-ton pickup carries only ~1 cu yd safely.

≈ 12 wheelbarrow loads to spread · delivery fee varies by distance — confirm at checkout.

  • Low-fi estimate. Confirm coverage and bag sizes with your supplier.
  • Includes a 10% overage allowance.
  • Bag count assumes 0.75 cu ft bags. Bulk delivery is sold by the cubic yard.
  • Weight assumes ~1.1 tons per cubic yard; actual density varies by material.

Doing more than one bed or material?

Total the whole yard →See it designed
What are you planning?
Was this calculator helpful?

Want it installed?

Let a local pro know you're interested · no obligation

We'll email you this estimate — no subscription needed. Tick the box only if you'd also like occasional low-water & fire-smart tips. You can unsubscribe or delete your data anytime, handled as described in our privacy policy.

Planning more than one thing? Open the Yard Planner → to trace your whole yard over an aerial photo and total every material at once.

We only keep an email we have your permission to use, so please check the box above. You can unsubscribe or delete your data anytime, handled as described in our privacy policy.

How to measure for topsoil

  1. Measure the length and width of your area in feet.
  2. Multiply them for square feet (or just enter length and width above).
  3. Choose a depth — we default to 4 inches for topsoil.
  4. Read your total in cubic yards, or the number of bags.

How Many Bags of Topsoil in a Yard? coverage at a glance (4" deep)

Area (sq ft)Cubic yardsBags
1001.449
2002.798
3004.1147
5006.8245
1,00013.6489

Includes a 10% overage allowance. Estimates are low-fi — confirm with your supplier.

Frequently asked questions

How many bags of topsoil make a yard?

With 0.75-cubic-foot bags, about 36 (27 ÷ 0.75). Bag sizes vary, so check the label.

Is bagged or bulk topsoil better value?

Bulk is usually far cheaper per cubic foot for anything bigger than a small bed, but bags are easier to handle in small amounts.

Other calculators

How Many Bags of Topsoil in a Yard? | GoGarden