Dirt by the yard

Topsoil is sold by volume but discussed by weight, and the two don’t hold still: a cubic yard of dry screened soil is about a ton, while the same yard after a week of rain can run 2,400 lb or more. That’s why the density is a visible, editable input — the presets cover the common cases (dry screened ~2,000 lb/yd³, moist ~2,400), and custom takes whatever your supplier’s ticket says. If you’re ordering by the yard, the volume card is your number; if your supplier quotes tons, the weight card converts.

The settling question matters more than on gravel: loose topsoil compacts under its own weight and with water, roughly 10–20% in the first season. This calculator deliberately shows the geometric volume without padding — to bake in settling, add a half-inch to the depth or 10% to the area. For a lawn renovation at 6 in deep over 200 sq ft, that’s the difference between ordering 3.7 yd³ and the ~4.1 yd³ you’ll wish you’d ordered in October.

Where topsoil goes

• New lawns / lawn renovation: 4–6 in of screened topsoil over loosened subsoil, then seed or sod.
• Topdressing an existing lawn: ¼–1 in screened fine — enough to level, not enough to smother grass.
• Raised beds: the bottom half can be cheaper fill or compost blend; real topsoil matters most in the top 6–12 in.
• Berms and grading: check drainage direction first — soil should slope away from the house.

For the gravel base under a bed or the mulch on top of it, the gravel and mulch calculators do the same math. For what’s actually under a path, the paver calculator prices out base and bedding too.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?

Area × depth. Topping up a 20 × 10 ft lawn area 6 in deep is 200 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 100 ft³ = 3.7 yd³ — around 3.7 tons of dry screened soil, more like 4.4 tons if it's wet. Topsoil settles, so the common allowance is ~10% extra; bump your depth input a little to bake it in.

How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?

Dry screened topsoil runs about 2,000–2,200 lb/yd³ (roughly a ton per yard); moist soil pushes 2,400+ and wet clay-heavy soil heavier still. That's why suppliers sell it by the yard — the weight swings with the weather. The density presets above cover the common cases; the custom option takes your supplier's number.

How much area does a yard of topsoil cover?

At 3 in deep, 1 yd³ covers 108 sq ft. At 2 in it's 162 sq ft; at 6 in — typical for a lawn renovation — just 54 sq ft. Rule of thumb: coverage in sq ft = 324 ÷ depth in inches.

How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?

The common recommendation is 4–6 in of decent topsoil for turf — roots want that much friable soil to establish in. For filling shallow ruts in an existing lawn, 1–2 in is plenty; for raised beds the fill can be cheaper soil underneath with topsoil on top. Whatever the depth, this page multiplies it by the area.

Is topsoil sold by the yard or by the ton?

Usually by the cubic yard in bulk, because weight swings with moisture — a yard that's a ton today was 2,400 lb after last night's rain. Some suppliers quote tons; the cost fields above take either a per-yard or a per-ton price so you can compare.

Topsoil vs fill dirt — what's the difference?

Topsoil is the screened, organic upper layer that plants grow in. Fill dirt is subsoil — cheaper, low-nutrient, for bulk leveling where nothing needs to grow. For a raised bed or lawn topdressing you want actual topsoil; for filling a deep low spot, fill first and put topsoil on the top few inches.