How do I convert cubic yards to bags of soil?

A standard 1-cubic-foot bag covers exactly 1 cubic foot. A standard 2-cubic-foot bag covers 2 cubic feet. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. The calculator shows bag counts for both common sizes automatically.

Should I order a little extra?

Yes — soil compacts over time, especially after watering. A common rule of thumb is to add 10–15% to your calculated volume to account for settling and any uneven low spots in the bed.

What depth should I use for a raised bed?

Most vegetables need at least 12 inches (30 cm) of soil. Shallow-rooted crops like lettuce and herbs can thrive in 6–8 inches. Root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips need 18–24 inches for best results.

Can I use this for round or irregular beds?

This calculator is for rectangular beds. For a round bed, multiply π (3.14159) by the radius squared, then by the depth. For irregular shapes, break them into rectangles and add the volumes together.

What is the difference between cubic feet and cubic yards?

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft). Bulk soil sold by the truckload is usually priced per cubic yard; bagged soil is sold per cubic foot. The calculator shows both so you can compare prices easily.

Garden Soil Calculator

Name: Garden Soil Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter your garden bed dimensions and fill depth to instantly calculate how much soil you need in cubic feet, cubic yards, and liters.

Bed Dimensions

Unit System

Bed Length (in)

Bed Width (in)

Fill Depth (in)

How deep you want to fill the bed with soil

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Cubic Feet

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Cubic Yards

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Liters

Bag Estimates

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1 cu ft bags needed

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2 cu ft bags needed

Tip: add 10–15% extra to account for soil settling after watering.

Calculation Summary

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Length

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Width

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Depth

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Surface Area

Soil Depth Guide

Enter values and click Calculate to see recommendations.

Summary

Enter your garden bed dimensions and fill depth to instantly calculate how much soil you need in cubic feet, cubic yards, and liters.

How it works

Enter your garden bed length and width.
Enter the desired soil depth (how deep you want to fill).
Choose your preferred unit: inches, feet, or centimeters.
The calculator computes volume = length × width × depth.
Results show cubic feet, cubic yards, liters, and estimated bag counts.

Use cases

Fill a new raised garden bed before planting.
Top-dress an existing bed with a fresh layer of compost or soil.
Estimate soil costs before visiting a garden center.
Convert bulk soil orders (cubic yards) to bag equivalents.
Plan soil purchases for multiple garden beds at once.
Calculate soil needs for container gardens or planter boxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related tools

Raised Bed Soil Calculator Plant Spacing Calculator Seed Rate Calculator Compost Ratio Calculator

Last updated: 2026-05-29 · Reviewed by Nham Vu