Topsoil for a 10×10 ft garden bed
A 10 × 10 ft garden bed at 8 in deep needs 2.47 cubic yards of topsoil — about 67 × 40 lb bags, roughly 3.00 tons and $86.42 of material. Fine-tune below.
Full breakdown
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume before waste | 66.7 ft³ |
| Volume with 10% waste | 73.3 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 2.72 |
| Cubic metres | 2.08 |
| Cubic feet | 73.3 |
| Weight | 3.30 tons (6,600 lb) |
| Full dump-truck loads | 1 × 10 yd³ truck |
| 40 lb bags | 74 bags · $240.50 |
| Sq ft covered at 1 in deep | 880 |
| Sq ft covered at 3 in deep | 293 |
- Formula: length × width × depth, with depth converted from inches to feet (÷ 12), then × (1 + waste%).
- Topsoil: Topsoil is sold screened or unscreened by the cubic yard; for lawns you want screened loam, and for filling low spots unscreened is fine and cheaper.
- Topsoil settles 15–25% after watering and compaction, so a 6-inch loose layer becomes roughly 4½ to 5 inches once it has rained twice. Order on the settled depth you need.
- Prices are national averages for planning, not quotes. Confirm with a local supplier — delivery, short-load fees and tax are extra.
For a 10 × 10 ft garden bed at 8 in, you need 2.47 cubic yards of topsoil (66.7 ft³, about 3.00 tons) before any extra you add for waste.
The calculator above is pre-filled with these dimensions — change any field to see the numbers update. Topsoil is sold screened or unscreened by the cubic yard; for lawns you want screened loam, and for filling low spots unscreened is fine and cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of topsoil for a 10×10 ft garden bed?
About 2.47 cubic yards at 8 in deep, which is 66.7 cubic feet or 3.00 tons. Add 10% waste if the ground is uneven.
How many bags is that?
67 × 40 lb bags, or 67 × 40 lb bags. Bagged is only worth it at this size if you cannot take a truck delivery.
What depth should a garden bed be?
8 in is the standard for topsoil in this application. Topsoil settles 15–25% after watering and compaction, so a 6-inch loose layer becomes roughly 4½ to 5 inches once it has rained twice. Order on the settled depth you need.