Free Online Calculators
Calculate volume, weight & bags for garden soil
Soil volume = length × width × depth; weight = volume × bulk density. Potting soil weighs about 25 lb per cubic foot, topsoil about 80 lb. The calculator handles beds, pots and planters, converts weight to volume and counts the bags.
A 2 cu ft bag of potting soil weighs about 50 lb, while a cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 2,190 lb, roughly one metric ton — dry soil less, wet soil up to a quarter more. In metric, 40 litres of potting soil weigh about 16 kg. The calculator also works out pots, raised beds and bags.
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| Volume | Potting soil | Garden soil (bagged) | Compost | Topsoil | Sand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cu ft | 25 lb | 34 lb | 37 lb | 81 lb | 100 lb |
| 1.5 cu ft | 37 lb | 52 lb | 56 lb | 122 lb | 150 lb |
| 2 cu ft | 50 lb | 69 lb | 75 lb | 162 lb | 200 lb |
| 3 cu ft | 75 lb | 103 lb | 112 lb | 243 lb | 300 lb |
| 5 cu ft | 125 lb | 172 lb | 187 lb | 406 lb | 499 lb |
| 10 cu ft | 250 lb | 343 lb | 375 lb | 812 lb | 999 lb |
| 27 cu ft (1 cu yd) | 674 lb | 927 lb | 1,011 lb | 2,191 lb | 2,697 lb |
About 20 kg (44 lb) for potting soil and 28 kg for bagged garden soil. Wet soil can weigh a quarter more.
2.4 kg of potting soil, 7.8 kg of topsoil, 9.6 kg of sand.
About 25 L of potting soil, 18 L of garden soil or 8 L of topsoil. Bags are usually sold by volume, so check the litres on the bag.
About 2,190 lb (1 t), and 2,700 lb for sand. Dry topsoil is lighter; wet topsoil can reach 2,700 lb.
4 × 8 × 1 = 32 cu ft (1.19 cu yd), or 16 bags of 2 cu ft. Allow 10–20 % extra because bagged soil settles.
Spread bark mulch 2–3 in deep: 100 sq ft at 3 in is 25 cu ft (0.93 cu yd), or 13 bags of 2 cu ft, weighing about 470 lb.
Top-dress 0.5–1 in a year: 200 sq ft at 1 in is 16.7 cu ft (0.62 cu yd); for a new bed work in 2–3 in.
Whether you're filling a raised bed, refreshing potted plants, or landscaping your entire backyard, one question always comes up: How much soil do I actually need? Buying too little means a second trip to the garden center. Buying too much means wasted money and a pile of dirt you don't know what to do with. Our free soil calculator gives you a precise answer in seconds – no math skills required.
The soil calculator determines the exact amount of soil you need based on the dimensions of your planting area. It calculates:
This means you know exactly how many bags to pick up at the store, or how much volume to ask for when you compare bulk delivery quotes.
You also select the material, because each one has its own bulk density: potting mix, bagged garden or raised bed soil, compost, bark mulch, topsoil, sand, gravel or excavated clay soil. This affects the weight calculation significantly.
The core formula is straightforward: Volume = Length × Width × Depth. For a rectangular raised bed measuring 6 ft × 4 ft (approx. 1.8 m × 1.2 m) with a 12-inch (30 cm) depth, the volume works out to 24 cu ft, or about 680 liters. With bagged raised bed soil at 0.55 kg per liter, that translates to roughly 374 kg (about 824 lb) – or 12 bags of 2 cu ft.
For round containers such as flower pots or planters, the pot mode uses the formula Area = π × radius². Just enter the diameter and the tool handles the rest automatically.
Garden soil is heavier than most people expect. A single cubic meter of topsoil weighs about 1.3 tonnes, and even light bagged soil comes to roughly 550 kilograms. Many homeowners make the mistake of overloading their car or underestimating how many trips they'll need. The average family car has a maximum load capacity of around 400–600 kg – and just ten 40-liter bags of topsoil (about 52 kg each) already add up to over 500 kg.
Beyond logistics, accurate calculation helps with budgeting. Bagged soil is convenient but tends to cost more per kilogram than bulk delivery. Knowing your exact volume lets you compare bag prices with bulk quotes yourself (the calculator does not include prices or delivery) – bulk often pays off for projects over 1–2 m³.
Different soil products have very different weights per volume unit. Here are some common examples:
Our calculator uses a typical value for each material and shows the moisture-dependent range in its result note, so you can judge how heavy your specific soil product may be.
The soil calculator is useful for a wide range of gardening and landscaping projects:
Using our free calculator before purchasing ensures you avoid costly mistakes – both overspending on excess soil and the frustration of running short mid-project.
It depends on the size of your raised bed. A common 2 m × 1 m raised bed filled to 40 cm deep needs approximately 800 liters of soil. Enter your specific dimensions into our soil calculator to get an exact answer tailored to your project.
Topsoil weighs about 1.3 tonnes per cubic meter (1.1–1.6 t depending on moisture). Bagged garden or raised bed soil weighs considerably less (about 550 kg/m³, range 450–700), and potting mix about 400 kg/m³, due to high organic content and added perlite or vermiculite.
Simply enter your area dimensions and desired soil depth into the calculator, then select your bag size (20, 40, 50 or 70 L, or 0.75–2 cu ft in US mode). The tool will instantly show you how many bags to purchase and notes that bagged soil settles by 10–20 %, so plan a small buffer.
Generally, bulk soil is cheaper per kilogram than bagged soil. Delivery typically becomes economical at volumes of 1 m³ or more. For smaller projects, bagged soil remains more practical and convenient despite the higher unit cost.
Absolutely. Just select sand or gravel as the material – the calculator uses about 1,600 kg/m³ for both (sand 1,500–1,900, gravel 1,500–1,800 kg/m³). The same formula applies to any granular material used in garden or landscaping projects.