Professional Dirt & Soil Calculator
Calculate exactly how many cubic yards of soil, mulch, or fill dirt you need for your landscaping project.
Your estimated project requirements:
*Recommended: Add 10% extra for settling and compaction.
How to Calculate Dirt for Your Garden or Yard
Ordering the right amount of soil is crucial for both your budget and your project's success. Whether you are filling a raised garden bed, leveling a lawn, or prepping a foundation, dirt is typically sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard covers a 3x3x3 foot area.
The Dirt Calculation Formula
To calculate the volume of dirt manually, follow these steps:
- Measure the length and width of your area in feet.
- Convert your desired depth from inches to feet (divide inches by 12).
- Multiply Length × Width × Depth (in feet) to get total cubic feet.
- Divide the total cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
A garden bed is 12 feet long, 4 feet wide, and you want 6 inches of soil.
1. 6 inches / 12 = 0.5 feet.
2. 12ft × 4ft × 0.5ft = 24 cubic feet.
3. 24 / 27 = 0.89 cubic yards.
Understanding Soil Weight and Density
Not all "dirt" weighs the same. Standard topsoil usually weighs about 2,200 pounds per cubic yard (roughly 1.1 tons). However, if the soil is wet, it can weigh significantly more. Conversely, mulch is much lighter, often weighing only 800 to 1,000 pounds per cubic yard. Our calculator accounts for these density variations to help you determine if your truck or trailer can handle the load.
Common Project Depths
- Flower Beds: 6 to 12 inches
- New Lawns (Seeding): 4 to 6 inches
- Raised Vegetable Beds: 12 to 18 inches
- Mulching: 2 to 3 inches
Pro Tip: The Compaction Factor
When you spread loose dirt, it will naturally settle over time or as you walk on it. We recommend ordering approximately 10-15% more material than your exact measurements suggest to account for this compaction and to ensure you don't run short at the end of the day.