Loam Calculator

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Loam & Soil Volume Calculator

Determine the exact cubic yardage and cost of loam required for your landscaping project.

Results

Total Cubic Yards: 0
Total Cubic Feet: 0
Estimated Weight (Tons): 0
Estimated Total Cost: $0.00
function calculateLoam() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loamLength').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loamWidth').value); var depthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loamDepth').value); var pricePerYard = parseFloat(document.getElementById('loamPrice').value) || 0; if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depthInches) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depthInches <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for length, width, and depth."); return; } // Calculation Logic var depthFeet = depthInches / 12; var cubicFeet = length * width * depthFeet; var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; // Soil weight varies, but average screened loam is approx 2,200 lbs per yard (1.1 tons) var estimatedTons = cubicYards * 1.1; var totalCost = cubicYards * pricePerYard; // Display Results document.getElementById('resYards').innerText = cubicYards.toFixed(2) + " yd³"; document.getElementById('resFeet').innerText = cubicFeet.toFixed(2) + " ft³"; document.getElementById('resWeight').innerText = estimatedTons.toFixed(2) + " Tons"; document.getElementById('resCost').innerText = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('loamResults').style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Loam and How Much You Need

Whether you are grading a new lawn, building raised garden beds, or improving soil quality, calculating the correct amount of loam is critical. Loam is the "gold standard" of soil, consisting of a balanced mixture of approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay. This specific ratio provides excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture and nutrients for plant health.

How to Calculate Loam Requirements

Loam is typically sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard covers a 3x3x3 foot cube. To calculate your needs manually, follow these steps:

  1. Measure Length and Width: Find the square footage of the area (Length x Width).
  2. Determine Depth: Decide how deep you want the new soil. For a new lawn, 4 to 6 inches is standard. For garden beds, you might need 12 inches or more.
  3. Convert to Feet: Divide your depth in inches by 12 (e.g., 4 inches / 12 = 0.33 feet).
  4. Calculate Cubic Feet: Multiply Square Footage by Depth in Feet.
  5. Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide the total cubic feet by 27.

Practical Example

Imagine you have a garden area that is 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, and you want to add 6 inches of high-quality loam.

  • Area: 30 x 10 = 300 square feet.
  • Depth in feet: 6 / 12 = 0.5 feet.
  • Cubic Volume: 300 x 0.5 = 150 cubic feet.
  • Cubic Yards: 150 / 27 = 5.56 cubic yards.

Factors Affecting Your Purchase

When ordering loam, consider the following variables that can affect your final project cost and success:

  • Compaction: Fresh loam is fluffy. Once spread and watered, it will settle and compact by about 15-20%. It is often wise to order 10% more than your exact calculation to account for this.
  • Weight: Loam is heavy. One cubic yard typically weighs between 2,000 and 2,600 pounds depending on moisture content. Ensure your vehicle or delivery site can handle the weight.
  • Screening: "Screened" loam has been passed through a mesh to remove large rocks, roots, and debris. This is more expensive but much easier to work with for gardening.

Cost Considerations

The price of loam varies significantly by region and quality. On average, you can expect to pay between $30 and $50 per cubic yard for screened loam. Delivery fees are usually extra and are often charged per load, regardless of whether the truck is full. Using a loam calculator helps you avoid over-ordering, which saves money on both the material and the delivery fees.

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