Enter the length, width and depth of the area. The ticket gives you the cubic yards to order and the weight in tons, with a drawing of the area to check against.

How deep to spread topsoil

Job	Depth
Topdressing an existing lawn	1–3 in
New lawn under sod	4–6 in
New garden bed over existing soil	6 in
Raised bed	6–12 in

Depths from The Old Farmer's Almanac. Local soil and what you're growing can change this, so check with a garden centre or your extension office.

How much area topsoil covers

Depth	One cubic yard covers	One ton covers
1 in	324 ft²	295 ft²
2 in	162 ft²	147 ft²
4 in	81 ft²	74 ft²
6 in	54 ft²	49 ft²

Topsoil for common sizes

Cubic yards and tons of dry topsoil at 1.1 tons per yard, before any extra.

Area	2 in deep	4 in deep	6 in deep
10 × 10 ft	0.62 yd³ · 0.7 t	1.23 yd³ · 1.4 t	1.85 yd³ · 2.0 t
10 × 20 ft	1.23 yd³ · 1.4 t	2.47 yd³ · 2.7 t	3.70 yd³ · 4.1 t
20 × 20 ft	2.47 yd³ · 2.7 t	4.94 yd³ · 5.4 t	7.41 yd³ · 8.1 t
20 × 50 ft	6.17 yd³ · 6.8 t	12.35 yd³ · 13.6 t	18.52 yd³ · 20.4 t
50 × 50 ft	15.43 yd³ · 17.0 t	30.86 yd³ · 34.0 t	46.30 yd³ · 50.9 t

Worked examples

New lawn, 40 × 25 ft (1,000 ft²), 4 in: 12.3 yd³, about 13.6 tons. That's a full dump-truck load for many suppliers.
Raised bed, 8 × 4 ft, 12 in deep: 1.19 yd³.
Topdressing a 30 × 20 ft lawn, 1 in: 1.85 yd³, about 2.0 tons.

The formula

Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard

For an uneven area, measure the depth you need in several places and use the average. For odd shapes, split the area into rectangles and add them up.

Before you order

Ask whether the soil is screened, and whether it's straight topsoil or a blend with compost.
Ask if their yards are loose or settled, and add extra for settling.
Check where the truck can tip: a cubic yard is a big pile, and moving it by wheelbarrow takes time.

Questions

How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?

The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests 4–6 in under sod. For a 1,000 ft² lawn at 4 in that's 12.3 cubic yards, about 13.6 tons.

How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?

About 1.1 tons when dry (1–1.3 typical). Wet soil is heavier, so the same yard can weigh more after rain.

How much area does a yard of topsoil cover?

About 324 ft² at 1 in deep, 162 ft² at 2 in, 81 ft² at 4 in and 54 ft² at 6 in.

How much soil for a raised bed?

An 8 × 4 ft bed filled 12 in deep holds 1.19 cubic yards. Many gardeners fill raised beds with a blend rather than straight topsoil; ask your supplier.

Should I add extra?

Yes. Loose soil settles after it is spread and watered. Add 10–20% with the Extra box, and ask the supplier whether their yards are measured loose.

Is topsoil sold by the ton or the yard?

Both, depending on the yard. The ticket shows cubic yards and tons, so you can compare prices either way.

See also: Mulch calculator · Tons to yards

Sources

Depths by job: The Old Farmer's Almanac, topsoil calculator. Topsoil weight: SelectSG, Aggregate Markets, Inch Calculator.

Topsoil Calculator