Topsoil Coverage Calculator
Enter cubic yards and depth to see coverage area.
Topsoil Coverage Formula
Understanding Topsoil Coverage
Topsoil Coverage by Depth
| Depth | Coverage per CY | Recommended Application |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | Top-dressing existing lawns |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Overseeding, light renovation |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | New lawn installation (minimum) |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | New lawn (recommended), raised beds |
| 8 inches | 40.5 sq ft | Garden beds, vegetable gardens |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | Raised garden beds |
Topsoil Quality and Grading
- Premium screened: - per CY. Clean, consistent, ready to plant.
- Standard screened: - per CY. Good quality with minor inclusions.
- Unscreened (field soil): - per CY. Contains rocks and debris.
- Topsoil/compost blend: - per CY. Enriched with organic matter.
How Much Topsoil for a New Lawn?
A new lawn requires minimum 4 inches, with 6 inches recommended. For 5,000 sq ft at 6 inches: 5,000 x 0.5 / 27 = 92.6 cubic yards. At - per CY delivered, that is ,800-,700 in topsoil alone.
Topsoil Coverage Calculator FAQ
Multiply area in sq ft by depth in feet, divide by 27. For 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches: 1,000 x 0.333 / 27 = 12.3 CY. Add 10% for settling.
Minimum 4 inches, with 6 inches recommended for optimal grass root development. Shallow topsoil leads to poor establishment and drought stress.
Screened topsoil costs - per CY. Delivery adds -. Premium blends run - per CY. Larger quantities (10+ CY) reduce per-unit price.
One CY covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, 54 sq ft at 6 inches.
Topsoil is natural upper earth with organic matter. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost and amendments for optimized growing. Garden soil costs more but delivers better results.
About 36 standard 40-lb bags per CY. At - per bag, bagged topsoil costs - per CY - much more than bulk delivery at -.