How to Calculate How Much soil You Need with Our topsoil Calculator
Using our soil calculator is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps to estimate the amount of soil, sand, or dirt you'll require for your project:
- Input Area in Square Feet (sqft): If you do not know the area of your garden then use our yard shape area formulas below to calculate it.
- Specify Depth in Inches: Next, input the desired thickness of the top soil layer in inches. This thickness will determine how deep you want the topsoil to be.
- Calculate: Click the "Calculate" button, and our topsoil calculator will instantly provide you with the estimated cubic yards of topsoil needed for your project.
How to Estimate How Much Fill Dirt You Need by Hand
If you prefer to estimate the amount of dirt you need manually, here's a simple formula to follow for a rectangular landscaping project:
Cubic Yards = (Square Feet * Thickness in Inches) / 324
- Square Feet (sqft): Measure the area's length and width in feet, and multiply them to find the square footage.
- Thickness in Inches: Decide how deep you want the dirt layer to be in inches.
- Calculate: Divide the result by 324 to obtain the cubic yardage needed.
While our online calculator simplifies the process, this formula can come in handy when you want to double-check or perform calculations without an internet connection.
Common Yard Shape Area Formulas
If you do not know the area of your yard or specific areas within it, you'll need to use different formulas based on the shape. Here are quick guidelines for calculating the area of common yard shapes:
Rectangle or Square Area = Length * Width
Circle Area = 3.14 * Radius2
Triangle Area = (Base * Height) / 2
These formulas will help you calculate the area accurately, ensuring you have the necessary information to use our topsoil calculator effectively.
An Overview of Topsoil
Topsoil is the upper layer of soil that contains essential nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms necessary for plant growth. It plays a crucial role in landscaping and gardening, providing a fertile medium for plants to thrive. Topsoil typically consists of a combination of minerals, organic material, water, and air.
Fill Dirt is an alternative to topsoil and has a lower density of nutrients and is mainly a combination of natural ingredients such as sand, gravel, and rock. Because of this, fill dirt is much cheaper than topsoil and is mainly used to raise up certain parts of land.
Common Topsoil Types and Price Table (per Cubic Yard)
Here's a brief overview of common top soil types and their approximate prices per cubic yard:
| Topsoil Type | Price (per Cubic Yard) |
|---|---|
| Screened Topsoil | $20 - $40 |
| Organic Topsoil | $30 - $50 |
| Fill Dirt | $10 - $25 |
| Garden Mix Topsoil | $40 - $60 |
| Sand | $25 - $55 |
Please note that prices may vary depending on your location and the supplier.
Good luck, and don't forget to bookmark this dirt calculator to save time on your next landscaping project.