Part of the DIY & Home collection — 4 tools available
Soil Calculator — Raised Beds & Planters
Calculate how much soil you need for raised beds, planters, and garden projects. Get cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag estimates for any project.
About This Calculator
Getting the right amount of soil for your raised bed, planter box, or garden project avoids the frustration of coming up short with a half-filled bed or hauling away excess bags you don't need. Soil is sold in 1.5 or 2 cubic foot bags at garden centers, or by the cubic yard for bulk delivery from landscape suppliers. A 4*8 foot raised bed filled 12 inches deep needs about 32 cubic feet of soil — that's 21 bags at $6 each or roughly 1.2 cubic yards bulk. Our soil calculator converts your container dimensions into every unit you need for ordering.
The Formula Behind This Calculator
Volume (cu ft) = Length * Width * Depth Cu yd = Cu ft / 27 Bags = Cu ft / Bag size
Understanding the math helps you verify results and make better decisions for your project.
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How to Use
- 1Measure the length and width of your raised bed or planter in inches.
- 2Enter the depth of soil needed in inches.
- 3Click Calculate to get cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag estimates.
When to Use
- →Filling a new raised bed, planter box, or container garden.
- →Ordering bulk soil for a large garden project.
- →Calculating soil needed to top-dress or refresh existing beds.
Tips
- ✓Fill raised beds to within 1-2 inches of the top to prevent soil washout when watering.
- ✓For deep beds, fill the bottom third with logs or branches (hugelkultur) to reduce soil cost.
- ✓A good raised bed mix is 50% topsoil, 30% compost, 20% aeration material.
FAQ
How much does a bag of soil cover?
A 1.5 cu ft bag covers about 6 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 1.8 sq ft at 12 inches deep. A 2 cu ft bag covers about 8 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
Should I buy bags or bulk soil?
Bulk delivery is cheaper for projects over 1 cubic yard (27 cu ft). A typical pickup truck holds 1-2 cubic yards. For smaller projects, bags are more convenient.
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
About 2,000-2,500 pounds when dry, up to 3,000+ pounds when wet. A full-size pickup can safely carry about 1 cubic yard of wet soil.
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