Calculate how many cubic yards, and how many tons, of bulk topsoil you need for a new lawn or large landscaping area.
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Volume needed = Length × Width × Depth, converted to cubic yards, since that's how bulk topsoil is typically quoted and delivered. Weight is estimated using a typical loose topsoil density of about 1.1 tons per cubic yard, a commonly cited planning figure from bulk landscaping suppliers, useful for estimating delivery truck loads.
This calculator is built for bulk delivery scenarios, larger areas like a new lawn, regrading, or major landscaping, where topsoil is quoted and delivered by the cubic yard (or truckload). For smaller garden beds or containers where buying individual bags makes more sense, our Soil Calculator gives a bag count instead.
This varies by supplier and truck size, but small dump trucks commonly carry somewhere in the range of 5 to 10 cubic yards per load, ask your supplier what their trucks carry to figure out how many deliveries you'll need.
Yes, moisture content and composition (sand, clay, organic matter content) can meaningfully affect topsoil's weight per cubic yard. 1.1 tons per cubic yard is a reasonable average planning estimate, but your supplier can give you a more precise figure for their specific product.
4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil is commonly recommended as a base for a new lawn, deep enough to support healthy root development for grass, though this can vary based on your existing soil quality and drainage.
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