Groundlane

Soil Yard Calculator

Estimate cubic yards of garden or fill soil needed for your project.

ft
ft
in
%
$/ton

You need approximately

1.23 cu yd

Recommended with 10% waste
1.36 cu yd
Cubic feet
33.33 ft³
Cubic meters
0.94 m³
Estimated weight
1.43 tons

Estimated material cost

$40

How we calculate this

"Soil yards" refers to cubic yards of garden or fill soil — the same length × width × depth ÷ 27 formula used throughout this site, using a garden-soil density preset. For lawn or garden-bed-specific guidance, see the Topsoil Calculator; for structural fill, see the Dirt Calculator.

Example

A 12 ft × 8 ft bed filled 4 inches deep needs about 1.19 cubic yards of soil before waste.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing soil yards with soil weight — always confirm which unit your supplier quotes.
  • Not adding compost or amendments, which are separate from the raw soil volume.

Frequently asked questions

Is a "soil yard" the same as a cubic yard?

Yes — "yards of soil" refers to cubic yards, the standard bulk unit used by soil and landscaping suppliers.

Should I use this or the Topsoil Calculator?

They use the same math — this page is set up with a general garden-soil preset, while the Topsoil Calculator is tuned specifically for lawn and bed applications.

Related calculators

Estimates are provided for planning purposes. Actual material requirements may vary based on supplier specifications, compaction, site conditions, installation method, waste, and local code.