Topsoil Calculator

For new lawns 4 to 6 inches is typical, while raised vegetable beds often want 8 to 12 inches of quality topsoil.

Yes. Add about 10 percent to your calculated amount to allow for settling and uneven ground.

Bulk topsoil by the cubic yard is usually cheaper for anything over roughly 1 cubic yard, while 40 lb bags suit small touch-ups.

Topsoil weight changes with moisture and composition, so the tons figure (about 1.1 tons per cubic yard) is a planning guide, not an exact value.

Roughly $20 to $60 per cubic yard in 2026 for bulk topsoil, depending on region and quality (unscreened, screened, or compost-blended). Delivery adds about $50 to $150 per dump-truck trip within a 15 mile radius.

Topsoil is the natural upper soil layer with good structure for planting. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and amendments, ready for vegetables. Compost is just decomposed organic matter and is mixed into soil at 30 to 50 percent, not used alone because it holds too much water.

A full-size pickup (F-150, Silverado 1500) can carry about 1 cubic yard of topsoil, which weighs over 2,000 pounds. Exceeding the truck's payload rating is dangerous and can damage the suspension.

Remove weeds and debris, loosen the existing soil with a rake or tiller to 4 to 6 inches so the new topsoil integrates, and level it. If you are seeding a lawn, test the soil pH and add lime if it is below 6.0.