Snow season: winter pricing tools are live Mowing season: spring pricing tools are live
Home / Material calculators / Topsoil
Work out cubic yards and bags of topsoil for a new lawn or topdressing, then compare delivered and roughly spread costs. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
HomeGuide's topsoil guide lists bulk topsoil at $10 to $50 per cubic yard, delivery at $50 to $150 per trip, and rough spreading after delivery at an additional $200 to $400. The estimate includes one delivery trip. Deliveries may require a minimum order of 10 to 20 cubic yards; that minimum is not included here.
The same HomeGuide guide lists 40 lb bags at $2 to $6 each. The bag estimate applies that price to the calculated bag count. A weight of 40 lb does not specify a bag's volume; check both the cubic feet and the price on the bag you buy.
Landscaper quoting this job? Price a topsoil job →
| Depth | What it is for | Cubic yards per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 in | Topdress a lawn (thin) (University of Tennessee Extension) | 0.39 |
| 1/4 in | Topdress a lawn (University of Tennessee Extension) | 0.77 |
| 4 in | New lawn, the minimum (Iowa State University Extension, New Mexico State University) | 12.35 |
| 6 in | New lawn, recommended (Iowa State University Extension, New Mexico State University) | 18.52 |
A cubic yard covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches and 54 sq ft at 6 inches.
Multiply the area by the depth in feet to find cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Divide cubic feet by the bag volume and round up for whole bags.
cubic yards = area in sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 324
bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size in cubic feet, rounded up
Iowa State Extension says a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of quality soil is needed to establish a lawn. Add weed-free topsoil if necessary. New Mexico State University gives 4 inches as the absolute minimum and recommends 6 inches or more.
These depths describe the total layer of good soil. Soil already there counts. Measure that layer before deciding how much topsoil to add.
Tennessee Extension says topdressing is generally 1/8 to 1/4 inch per application. Use those settings for a thin layer over an existing lawn.
All checked November 3, 2026.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. At 4 inches deep it covers 81 square feet; at 6 inches it covers 54 square feet.
The new-lawn recommendation is for the total depth of good soil. Count the good soil already there, then calculate only the depth you need to add.
It takes 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet, 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 bags of 1.5 cubic feet, or 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet. The calculator rounds your order up to whole bags.
No. HomeGuide notes that deliveries may require a minimum order of 10 to 20 cubic yards. Ask your supplier before using the calculated delivery total as a budget.
Last updated