How to Use the Topsoil Calculator
Enter the covered area, fill depth, density, and waste allowance to estimate the topsoil volume and weight.
- Enter Area and choose sq ft, sq yd, or sq m.
- Enter Fill depth and choose in, ft, cm, or mm.
- Choose a value under Topsoil condition / density. Select Custom density to edit Density; preset choices make it read-only and reset its unit to
lb/ft³. - Review Waste / overage %. It starts at 10% and accepts a value from 0 to 50. This is a simple overage you choose; it does not calculate settling.
- Click Calculate. The result section appears after successful validation. Click Reset to clear the area and hide the result.
What the Result Shows
The result section stays hidden until a successful calculation. It shows topsoil volume with waste in yd³ and ft³, estimated weight in US short tons, and metric tonnes. The details include converted area and depth, density used, volume before waste, waste allowance, total volume, weight, and the formula.
Formula Used
The calculator converts area, depth, and density to consistent internal units before applying these formulas:
Volume = Area x DepthTotal volume (with waste) = Volume x (1 + Waste % / 100)Weight = Total volume x Density
Inputs, Defaults, and Supported Units
- Fill depth starts at 4 in.
- Topsoil condition / density starts at Average topsoil, using 75 lb/ft³.
- Waste / overage % starts at 10%.
- Area: sq ft, sq yd, or sq m. Depth: in, ft, cm, or mm.
- Density: lb/ft³ or kg/m³. Presets are 70, 75, 90, and 100 lb/ft³, with Custom density available. Selecting a preset makes Density read-only; Custom density makes it editable.
Validation and Limitations
Area, Fill depth, and Density must be numeric values greater than zero. Waste / overage % must be from 0 to 50. If validation fails, an error message appears, calculation stops, and the result section stays hidden.
The model assumes one uniform area, one uniform depth, and one density figure. It does not model multiple zones, sloped grading, soil amendments, drainage, or other site-specific conditions. The waste percentage is a simple user-entered overage; actual settling is not calculated unless you reflect it in the entered values. Density choices are reference points, so confirm the actual material density with your supplier.
Copy or Download the Result
Click Copy result to copy the plain-text summary when clipboard access succeeds. If it fails, the interface displays Could not copy - select and copy manually. Click Download result (.txt) to download topsoil-calculator-result.txt.
Calculator Privacy
The calculation in script.js runs in your browser, and the calculation does not transmit the values you enter. This page still loads Ahrefs and Google Analytics scripts. If you use the subscription form, it posts the email address to /assets/subscribe.php; that activity is separate from the calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the topsoil volume and weight formula?
Volume = Area x Depth. Total volume (with waste) = Volume x (1 + Waste % / 100). Weight = Total volume x Density. For example, 200 sq ft at a 4 inch depth (0.333 ft) is about 66.67 cubic feet. With 10% waste that is about 73.33 cubic feet, or about 2.72 cubic yards. At a density of 75 lb/ft3, that is about 2.75 US tons.
What density should I use for topsoil?
Topsoil density varies widely with moisture content, organic matter, and compaction, typically from about 70 to 100 lb per cubic foot (roughly 1,120 to 1,600 kg per cubic meter) - dry, loose topsoil sits at the lower end, and moist or compacted topsoil at the higher end. This calculator offers common presets as a starting point, but actual density varies by material - confirm the figure with your supplier before ordering.
Why does the calculator include a waste percentage?
Waste is a simple overage percentage added to the calculated volume. It defaults to 10%, but you can change it or set it to 0. It does not calculate actual settling; include any settling allowance in the values you enter if needed.
What area, depth, and density units are supported?
Area accepts square feet, square yards, or square meters. Depth accepts inches, feet, centimeters, or millimeters. Density accepts pounds per cubic foot or kilograms per cubic meter. Results are shown in cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, US short tons, and metric tonnes.
Does this tool fetch live pricing or give certified advice?
No. It performs a single, transparent calculation using only the area, depth, density, and waste percentage you type in. It does not fetch material prices, supplier data, or site conditions, and it is not a certified engineering, agronomic, or purchasing recommendation.