Soil calculator for Utah
Calculate soil volume in cubic yards for raised beds, planters, and landscape work, then match the material to the project.
Enter your project dimensions
A standard 4 x 8 raised bed filled to 12 inches requires 32 cubic feet of material, equal to 1.2 cubic yards. That is often more soil than new bed builders expect when planning for a few bags. Use this calculator to size any bed, planter, or yard area from the three available soil types. Estimated weights vary by material: garden soil is about 2,000 lb per cubic yard, screened topsoil is 2,200, and fill dirt is 2,400. Select the product being ordered for an accurate ton estimate.
Three steps for bed math
- Record every bed or planter's measurements in feet. Multiple-areas mode combines the entries into a single total.
- Choose depth based on the application: 4-6 inches for amending established beds, 6 inches for a new in-ground bed, and 12 inches for an empty raised planter.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to find cubic yards. Multiply yards x 1.0 to 1.2 for tons, based on soil type.
Tons = yards × 1.0 (garden soil) · 1.1 (topsoil) · 1.2 (fill dirt)
Coverage and weight
| Soil type | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Garden soil (blended with compost) | ≈ 2,000 lb | 1.00 |
| Topsoil (screened) | ≈ 2,200 lb | 1.10 |
| Fill dirt | ≈ 2,400 lb | 1.20 |
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 3 yards cover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 486 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 243 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 12 inches, raised bed | 27 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
Choose soil by project
- For vegetable beds, flower planting areas, and containers, use garden soil blended with compost for planting.
- Choose screened topsoil for lawn preparation and final grading. The Topsoil Calculator includes suggested lawn depths and sample calculations.
- For filling holes or building up grade, place fill dirt below and reserve growing soil for the surface layer.
- Where native ground is tired, work 2-3 inches of garden soil into the upper 6 inches rather than replacing the entire bed. This uses less material and helps roots move through the soil transition.
Fill deep raised beds thoughtfully
A deep bed does not require costly blend from top to bottom. Beds taller than 18 inches can use a lower third of fill dirt, or coarse organic matter that breaks down in place, then hold 8-12 inches of garden soil at the rooting zone. Calculate the two layers separately. Along the Wasatch Front, taking a 12 inches depth as a measured layer rather than an estimate helps when spring planting begins.
Example: three 4 x 8 beds
A 96 square foot bed at a depth of 12 inches requires 96 cubic feet, equal to 3.6 cubic yards. Garden soil for that volume weighs about 3.6 tons. Order 4 yards. In the first weeks, blended material may settle roughly 10% as its compost portion consolidates, leaving reserve material to refill the beds afterward.
Amend clay and sand in place
Clay holds water slowly, while sandy ground sheds it quickly and can leave plants short on moisture between watering. In either case, till 2-3 inches of compost-blended garden soil into the upper 6 inches and repeat over a couple of seasons. That is a third of the material and lifting needed for replacement. On the Wasatch Front, old Lake Bonneville clay often benefits from this gradual approach. Replace soil to full depth only where debris from construction or contamination makes the existing ground unsuitable.
Bulk soil compared with bags
One cubic yard is about 36 bags when bags weigh 40 lb. A raised bed can become a 43-bag job, meaning 43 bags must be loaded twice. Bulk soil costs less per cubic foot and is delivered in one tip, with free delivery included. Use bags mainly to top off a single planter. Request delivery onto a tarp because soil can mark concrete, and the tarp can be dragged and folded for cleanup.
Soil amounts for beds and bags
How much soil is required for a 4x8 raised bed?
How do garden soil, topsoil, and fill dirt differ?
How many soil bags equal one cubic yard?
How many yards are needed for my beds?
Will bulk soil settle after filling a bed?
Can delivered garden soil be planted in directly?
Other calculators
Measurements done? Order soil online.
Garden soil, topsoil, and fill dirt available by the yard, with free delivery included.
