Soil calculator for Rhode Island
Size up beds, raised planters, and landscape work in cubic yards, then match the soil to the work.
Enter your project dimensions
A 4 x 8 raised bed filled to 12 inches needs 32 cubic feet of soil. That equals 1.2 cubic yards, often more than new bed builders expect when they plan to pick up only a few bags. Use this calculator for beds, planters, or compact yard spaces, with garden soil, screened topsoil, or fill dirt. Material weight changes by blend: one cubic yard of garden soil weighs roughly 2,000 lb, screened topsoil weighs 2,200 lb, and fill dirt weighs 2,400 lb. Select the material you plan to order for the correct tonnage.
Three steps for bed math
- Enter the length and width of every bed or planter in feet. Multiple-areas mode combines them as you go.
- Choose depth by purpose: 4-6 inches for existing beds, 6 inches for new beds at ground level, and 12 inches for empty raised planters.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.0 to 1.2 for tons based on soil type.
Tons = yards × 1.0 (garden soil) · 1.1 (topsoil) · 1.2 (fill dirt)
Coverage and weight
| Soil type | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Garden soil (blended with compost) | ≈ 2,000 lb | 1.00 |
| Topsoil (screened) | ≈ 2,200 lb | 1.10 |
| Fill dirt | ≈ 2,400 lb | 1.20 |
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 3 yards cover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 486 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 243 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 12 inches, raised bed | 27 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
Choose soil by project
- Use compost-blended garden soil for vegetables, flowers, and planters. It is ready for planting.
- Choose screened topsoil for lawns and final grade work. Find lawn depths and examples in the Topsoil Calculator.
- Use fill dirt below for grade changes and hole repairs, then place growing soil in the upper layer.
- For worn native ground, mix 2-3 inches of garden soil into the top 6 inches instead of swapping out the full bed. It uses less material and gives roots a better start.
Fill raised beds for less
Do not fill the entire depth of a tall bed with the more expensive blend. For beds above 18 inches, use fill dirt or coarse organic matter that composts in place through the lower third, then add 8-12 inches of garden soil where roots grow. Calculate the two layers separately. Measure the full 12 inches instead of estimating.
Example: three 4 x 8 beds
A Ninety-six square foot bed at 12 inches deep contains 96 cubic feet. That works out to 3.6 cubic yards, or about 3.6 tons of garden soil. Order 4 yards. Compost in blended soil settles roughly 10% during the first weeks, leaving extra material to refill the beds after the initial drop.
Improve clay and sand in place
Clay holds water, while sand lets it pass through before plants can use it. In either case, till 2-3 inches of compost-blended garden soil through the top 6 inches and repeat for a couple of seasons. This uses a third of the material and lifting of replacing the entire bed. Reserve full-depth replacement for beds where debris or contamination makes the existing ground unusable.
Bulk soil versus bags
At 40 lb each, a cubic yard is about 36 bags. One raised bed can become a 43-bag job, with 43 bags to load and handle twice. Bulk costs less per cubic foot and arrives in one tip with free delivery. Bags still suit topping off a single planter. Have the soil placed on a tarp because it can stain concrete, and the tarp makes cleanup a drag-and-fold job.
Soil amounts for beds and bags
What soil amount fits a 4x8 raised bed?
How do garden soil, topsoil, and fill dirt differ?
How many soil bags equal a cubic yard?
How many yards are needed for my beds?
Will bulk soil settle after installation?
Can delivered garden soil be planted in directly?
Other calculators
Measured your beds? Order soil online.
Order garden soil, topsoil, or fill dirt by the yard with free delivery included.
