Topsoil Calculator

Estimate loose topsoil volume and bagged alternatives for a rectangular area.

01 / Your project

Measure. Adjust. Calculate.

Example values are editable, not installation specifications. A $0 price means costs have not been entered.

Your material takeoff
2.61
cubic yards to order
Measured area
192 sq ft
Before allowance
2.37 cu yd
Bag alternative
71 bags
Material subtotal (entered price only)
0 USD

Whole packages round up. Prices include only the items you enter. Delivery, tax and installation may be extra.

How to calculate

Use the average fill depth. If soil will settle or be compacted, confirm the supplier’s extra-volume guidance rather than assuming one universal factor.

Cubic yards = length × width × depth ÷ 324 × (1 + allowance / 100)

Worked example

Length (ft): 16 · Width (ft): 12 · Material depth (in): 4 · Bag yield (cu ft): 1 · Extra material (%): 10.

These inputs produce 2.61 cubic yards to order. Change the measurements above to match your project.

Before you order

Specify screened topsoil or the required blend when ordering. Soil quality and drainage suitability are separate from volume.

For an irregular footprint, split the project into rectangles. Calculate each section and combine unrounded quantities before rounding the final order. Ask the supplier to confirm product yield and available package sizes.

Common questions

Is the allowance an installation recommendation?

No. It is an editable purchasing buffer. Cuts, spills and product requirements vary. Confirm the allowance for your layout.

Does this include installation costs?

Only prices you explicitly enter are included. A material-only result is not an installed quote. Request an itemized quote for site preparation, access, removal, drainage, labor, delivery and tax.

Method maintained by YardTakeoff · Updated September 23, 2026. Assumptions and limitations.

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