Bagged vs bulk
Bulk is cheaper for this job
With these prices and $100 delivery, bulk starts to win at about 1.1 cu yd (about 92 sq ft at 4 in). Bulk cost rises in half-yard steps.
Prices used in this comparison
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $2.00–$5.00 per 0.75 cu ft bag
Use a price like 2.00.
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $12.00–$50.00 per cu yd
Use a price like 12.00.
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $50.00–$150.00 per delivery
Use a price like 50.00.
1.5 cu yd × $12.00–$50.00 + $50.00–$150.00 delivery = $68–$225
Delivery is one fee for the bulk order, and it carries over to the gravel and mulch calculators. Bags are priced at the size you picked above (0.75 cu ft unless you chose 1 cu ft bags). Bulk uses the per cu yd price.
How it works
The formula
with settling = cu ft × (1 + extra)
cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27
bags = cu ft ÷ bag size, round up
tons = cu yd × tons per cu yd
Assumptions
- No extra by default. Add 10 to 20% for loose or freshly tilled soil that will settle.
- Bags are counted by the volume printed on the bag (0.75 or 1 cu ft), not the weight. A bag labeled "40 lb" still holds about 0.75 cu ft, and its weight changes with moisture.
- Bulk is rounded up to the half cubic yard, or the half ton, which is how most suppliers sell it.
- A cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 1.1 tons (2,200 lb) as a typical dry loam. Dry soil can be near 1 ton and moist soil near 1.3 tons. Treat tons as an estimate.
Worked example
A 10 × 10 ft area, 4 in deep
- 10 × 10 × 4 ÷ 12 = 33.3 cu ft
- In yards: 33.3 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cu yd
- In 0.75 cu ft bags: 33.3 ÷ 0.75 = 44.4, round up to 45 bags
- In bulk: 1.23 cu yd rounds up to 1.5 cu yd, or about 1.36 tons, which rounds up to 1.5 tons
- At $3.50 a bag (the middle of our typical range): 45 × $3.50 = $157.50
Common sizes
| Area | Depth | Cu ft | Cu yd | 0.75 cu ft bags | 1 cu ft bags | Bulk order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised bed 4 × 8 ft | 12 in | 32.0 | 1.19 | 43 | 32 | 1.5 cu yd |
| Raised bed 4 × 4 ft | 12 in | 16.0 | 0.59 | 22 | 16 | 1 cu yd |
| Lawn 10 × 10 ft | 4 in | 33.3 | 1.23 | 45 | 34 | 1.5 cu yd |
| Lawn 20 × 20 ft | 4 in | 133.3 | 4.94 | 178 | 134 | 5 cu yd |
No extra for settling. Bag counts are rounded up; bulk is rounded up to the half yard.
Questions people ask
How many bags of topsoil are in a yard?
36 bags of 0.75 cu ft, or 27 bags of 1 cu ft. A cubic yard is 27 cu ft.
How much does a yard of topsoil cover?
At 4 in deep, one cubic yard covers about 81 sq ft. At 2 in it covers 162 sq ft, at 6 in 54 sq ft, and at 1 in 324 sq ft.
How much topsoil for a 4x8 raised bed?
A 4 × 8 ft bed filled 12 in deep takes 32 cu ft, which is 1.19 cu yd. That is 43 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 32 bags of 1 cu ft.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
4 to 6 in of topsoil is a good target for a new lawn. For a thin top dressing over an existing lawn, use ¼ to ½ in. Raised beds are usually filled 6 to 12 in.
How heavy is a yard of topsoil?
About 1.1 tons (2,200 lb) for typical dry loam. Dry soil may be near 2,000 lb and moist soil near 2,600 lb, so treat any weight as an estimate and ask your supplier for theirs.