Match quantity to depth
Calculate a thin topdressing separately from deeper lawn repair, garden-bed, grading, or fill sections.
Topsoil coverage calculator
Estimate topsoil coverage by area and finished depth.
Topsoil quantity depends on both area and installed depth. Measure each section, decide whether the project is topdressing or deeper fill, and compare bulk delivery with bagged material before pricing the work.
Compare bulk and bags
See cubic yards and whole bag counts together using the bag size and local prices you enter.
Account for installation
Add delivery, access, spreading, grading, amendment, cleanup, equipment, labor, and markup to the material plan.
Connected workflow
Plan topsoil for a lawn or garden project
- 01
Measure the receiving area
Use known dimensions or outline visible lawns and garden sections on the satellite map.
- 02
Choose the finished depth
Set depth based on the task, existing grade, compaction, settling, and the soil or amendment being used.
- 03
Compare purchase options
Check cubic-yard delivery, bag coverage, minimums, delivery fees, screened or blended product specifications, and local pricing.
- 04
Build the customer estimate
Include preparation, removal, spreading, grading, access, labor, equipment, cleanup, overhead, and profit.
What to know
Coverage changes with real site conditions
Calculated volume assumes a consistent depth across the measured area. Low spots, slopes, settlement, blending, moisture, and compaction can change how much material is actually required.
Use the result to plan and compare options, then verify grade, depth, access, soil condition, and supplier measurements before ordering or promising a final quantity.
Common questions
Questions contractors ask
How many square feet does a yard of topsoil cover?
Coverage depends on depth: one cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at one inch, 162 square feet at two inches, or 108 square feet at three inches before compaction or site variation.
Can I calculate topsoil bags instead of bulk yards?
Yes. Enter the bag size and YardMeasure estimates the whole number of bags required along with the bulk cubic yards.
Can I measure the lawn online first?
Yes. Search the address, outline each visible lawn section, and send the combined square footage into the topsoil calculator.