Topsoil, fill sand, and compost are all sold by the cubic yard but delivered by weight, and they compact differently once spread. This calculator gives you volume, weight, and a settling allowance so the finished grade lands where you planned.
Filling raised beds or spreading mulch on top? See the Mulch Calculator.
Topsoil and Sand Calculator
Enter the area and depth you need to fill. Results include a settling allowance.
The Topsoil Volume Formula
Cubic Yards = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Then add a settling allowance of 15–25% for loose material.
Worked example: A 30 × 20 ft lawn area needing 4 inches of topsoil. 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft. 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft. 600 × 0.333 = 200 cubic feet. 200 ÷ 27 = 7.4 cubic yards. Add 15% for settling: 8.5 cubic yards. At 2,200 lbs per yard that is about 9.4 tons.
Settling is the step people skip. Delivered topsoil is fluffed from handling and loses 10–20% of its volume within a few weeks of rain and foot traffic. Order exact volume and the finished grade will sit half an inch or more below where you set it.
Topsoil Needed by Area and Depth
Cubic yards before settling allowance. Add 15% to any figure below.
| Area | 1 in | 2 in | 4 in | 6 in | 12 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.31 | 0.62 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 3.70 |
| 250 sq ft | 0.77 | 1.54 | 3.09 | 4.63 | 9.26 |
| 500 sq ft | 1.54 | 3.09 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 18.52 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 3.09 | 6.17 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 37.04 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 7.72 | 15.43 | 30.86 | 46.30 | 92.59 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 15.43 | 30.86 | 61.73 | 92.59 | 185.19 |
| 1 acre (43,560) | 134.4 | 268.9 | 537.8 | 806.7 | 1,613.3 |
For a full lawn installation, 4 inches of quality topsoil over an acre is 538 cubic yards — roughly 45 tandem dump truck loads and a five-figure material cost. Most lawn renovations use 1–2 inches as a top dressing instead.
Depth Recommendations by Application
| Application | Depth | Material | Cu Yd per 1,000 Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn top dressing / overseeding | 0.25–0.5 in | Screened topsoil or compost | 0.8–1.5 |
| Leveling low spots | 1–2 in | Topsoil / sand blend | 3.1–6.2 |
| New lawn from bare soil | 4–6 in | Screened topsoil | 12.4–18.5 |
| Sod installation base | 4 in | Screened topsoil | 12.4 |
| Flower / shrub bed | 8–12 in | Topsoil-compost blend | 24.7–37.0 |
| Vegetable raised bed | 10–12 in | Garden soil blend | 30.9–37.0 |
| Paver bedding sand | 1 in | Concrete sand | 3.1 |
| Grading / bulk fill | Varies | Fill dirt (unscreened) | Varies |
Use unscreened fill dirt for bulk grading below the surface, and save the more expensive screened topsoil for the top 4 inches where roots actually grow. Mixing this up wastes money on material buried too deep to matter.
Common Topsoil Ordering Mistakes
Not Allowing for Settling
Freshly delivered topsoil is aerated from loading and dumping, and it loses 10–20% of its volume as it settles under rain and traffic. Ordering exactly the calculated volume leaves the finished grade sitting low within a month. Add 15% for normal spreading and up to 25% for deep raised beds where the settling compounds.
Buying Screened Topsoil for Deep Fill
Screened topsoil costs two to three times what unscreened fill dirt costs, and its value is entirely in the top few inches where roots grow. Filling a two-foot grade change with premium topsoil wastes hundreds of dollars on material that no plant will ever reach. Use fill dirt below, topsoil on top.
Overloading a Pickup Truck
One cubic yard of wet topsoil weighs around 2,500–3,000 lbs, which exceeds the payload rating of most half-ton pickups on its own. Suppliers will load whatever you ask for, and the liability is yours. A half-ton truck should take three-quarters of a yard of topsoil at most; anything more is a genuine safety problem on the drive home.
Ordering Sand When Soil Is the Problem
Adding sand to heavy clay is widespread bad advice. Clemson Cooperative Extension warns directly against tilling sand into clay, noting it can increase firmness and reduce drainage — the sand fills the clay's pore structure without opening new drainage paths. Compost and other organic matter improve clay structure without that risk.
About these price ranges
Pricing varies widely by region, season, project size, and site conditions. Treat every figure on this page as a planning estimate for budgeting only — not as a quote. Coastal metro markets commonly run 20–40% above national ranges while rural inland markets can fall 10–20% below. Always collect at least three written quotes from local contractors before committing to a budget.
Sourced figures: Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 1203 Lawn Establishment (soil preparation depths and clay amendment guidance).
Unsourced estimates: All topsoil, sand, and compost prices, plus weight-per-cubic-yard figures. These are informed planning figures rather than data drawn from a published price index, and they carry a correspondingly wider margin of error.