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Soil Calculator for Raised Beds

Fill a raised bed with confidence: enter its length, width, and height and we'll calculate the soil volume.

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?
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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.

Soil for Raised Beds 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 much soil do I need to fill a 4x8 raised bed?

A 4×8 bed that's 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet — about 1.2 cubic yards. Enter your bed's exact size above.

What mix should I use in a raised bed?

A common blend is roughly 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% aeration (e.g. perlite). Calculate each layer separately above.

Other calculators

Raised Bed Soil Calculator — How Much Soil to Fill It | GoGarden