Soil & Compost Calculator

Enter each area's length and width or a known square-foot area, enter depth in inches, and use area × depth ÷ 12 for cubic feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards.

Yes. Use the soil material selector for a dirt or fill-soil planning estimate. For each measured row at a uniform depth, cubic feet = area (ft²) × depth (in) ÷ 12; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27; whole bags = cubic feet ÷ bag-label volume (ft³), rounded up. Example only: 90 ft² at 4 in needs 30 ft³ (about 1.11 yd³); with 2 ft³ bags, that is 15 whole bags before any allowance. Four inches is an arithmetic example, not a recommended depth. Use product or supplier data for density and prices if you need tons or cost. This calculator applies one depth across its rows and does not estimate exact irregular-slope, grading, drainage or compaction needs.

Yes. Choose topsoil in the material selector and enter the density and quote from your product or supplier if you need tons and cost estimates.

Yes. Choose Compost and enter the measured area and the depth of the finished-compost layer you want to add. One depth applies to every row, so calculate different-depth sections separately. Check the printed bag volume before using the bag count; add supplier density only if you need weight. This is not a compost-pile recipe or an application-depth recommendation.

Yes. Add each garden section as its own row, choose the material you plan to buy, and copy the resulting volume and shopping quantities.

Check separately measured sections rather than using the deepest point for the whole footprint. For each section with a measured uniform fill depth, cubic feet = area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12; add the volumes and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Example only: 60 ft² at 2 in plus 30 ft² at 4 in is 10 + 10 = 20 ft³, or about 0.74 yd³ before allowances. This calculator applies one depth to all its rows, so run different-depth sections separately. This checks section volumes, not the exact volume of an irregular slope, grading, drainage or compaction requirements.

For a uniform added depth, area in square feet = delivered cubic yards × 27 ÷ (depth in inches ÷ 12). Example only: 2 yd³ is 54 ft³; at 4 in deep it covers 162 ft² before allowances. Check by entering 162 ft² and 4 in above. This is volume arithmetic, not a recommended topsoil depth. Settling or handling loss reduces usable coverage.

Use this page for the volume of a finished-compost layer, not for a recommended share of the entire bed mix. Measure the inside footprint and enter only the layer depth you have chosen. For the full volume of an empty bed, use the linked raised bed soil calculator below; neither calculation determines a suitable compost-to-soil ratio.

At a uniform chosen depth, coverage in square feet = cubic yards × 27 × 12 ÷ depth in inches. For an arithmetic check, 1 cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and covers 324 square feet at 1 inch before allowances. One inch is an example, not a recommended compost depth. Enter 324 square feet and 1 inch above to check the volume in reverse.

Yes, for the volume of a measured layer. Use separate rows for measured garden or lawn sections that share one chosen depth. For different depths, calculate the sections separately. The calculator does not choose an application depth, judge compost suitability or replace soil-test advice.

A cubic yard is a volume, not a fixed weight. For density D in pounds per cubic foot supplied for your compost, one cubic yard weighs 27 × D pounds, or 27 × D ÷ 2,000 US short tons. Enter that density only when you have product or supplier data; this page leaves weight uncalculated when it is missing.