120 ft2 at 4 in
- Cubic feet
- 44
- 1.5 ft3 bags
- 30
- 2 ft3 bags
- 22
Soil settles. Raised beds, existing soil, compost mix, moisture, and bag fill can change the amount needed.
Soil Calculator
Use this free soil calculator to estimate garden soil volume and bag counts from square feet, depth in inches, and extra percent.
Research-backed assumptions Formula steps Examples included Private in-browser use
Formula steps
- Convert soil depth from inches to feet.
- Multiply bed area by depth and add extra percent.
- Convert to cubic yards and common bag counts.
How to use the soil calculator
- Enter bed area, desired soil depth, and extra percent.
- Press Estimate soil to see cubic yards, cubic feet, and common bag counts.
- Use this for raised beds, garden top-offs, and topsoil planning.
- Soil settles and retail bag volumes vary, so check the bag label before buying.
Common uses
Estimate soil for raised beds or garden top-offs.
Convert square feet and inches deep into cubic yards.
Estimate 1.5-cubic-foot and 2-cubic-foot bag counts.
Add extra percent for settling or uneven beds.
Examples
Cubic yards and bags
Bag count estimate
Low-depth soil estimate
Frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers about when to use the tool, what it does with your inputs, what to double-check, and how privacy works.
When should I use the Soil Calculator?
Use it when your task matches one of these common needs: Estimate soil for raised beds or garden top-offs. Convert square feet and inches deep into cubic yards. It works best when you already know the values, dates, units, or settings the page asks for.
What is the Soil Calculator doing with my inputs?
In plain language: The calculator converts depth from inches to feet, multiplies by area, adds extra percent, divides by 27 for cubic yards, and estimates common bag counts. The examples on the page are there so you can compare your inputs with a filled-out calculation before copying the answer.
What should I double-check before trusting the answer?
Soil settles and bag fill varies. Existing bed depth, compost mix, moisture, raised bed shape, and plant needs can change the amount to buy. Also check that you used the right unit, date, scale, or mode because small input changes can change the result.
Does the site save what I enter?
No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Your recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.
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