Topsoil calculator for Washington
Find yardage for lawns, beds, and finish grading, starting with the depth needed.
Enter your project dimensions
Choose the use and depth first, since depth changes the order more than area. A 1,000-square-foot lawn takes 12 cubic yards at 4-inch depth, but a half-inch topdressing uses only 1.5 yards. Enter the area and selected depth to calculate cubic yards, the measure used to sell topsoil, and tons at about 2,200 lb per dry yard. Our screened topsoil has rock, roots, and clods removed, saving raking after it is spread.
Choose depth before calculating
- Lawn topdressing: apply 1/4 to 1/2 inch, then rake so the grass tips remain exposed.
- For overseeding: 1/2 to 1 inch.
- Seeded or sodded lawn: spread 4 to 6 inches over subgrade that has been loosened.
- Flower beds: use 6 inches and mix it into the soil underneath.
- Vegetable raised beds: use 12 inches. Garden-soil blend is a better fit for beds, using the Soil Calculator.
- Get the area measurement in feet, then select a depth from above.
- To convert, divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply yards × 1.1 for tons. The calculator handles both and applies 5% when the allowance is left on.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.1
Coverage guide
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 5 yards cover |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 inch topdress | 648 sq ft | 3,240 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 810 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 405 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 270 sq ft |
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New lawn, seed or sod | 1,000 sq ft | 4" | 12.3 yd³ | 13.6 tons |
| Lawn topdressing | 2,000 sq ft | 0.5" | 3.1 yd³ | 3.4 tons |
| New flower bed | 15 x 4 ft | 6" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.2 tons |
| Patch repairs around the yard | ≈ 150 sq ft | 2" | 0.9 yd³ | 1 tons |
| Finish grade over fill | 600 sq ft | 4" | 7.4 yd³ | 8.1 tons |
Example calculation: 1,000 square feet of new lawn
For 4 inches: 1,000 x 0.333 = 333 cubic feet = 12.3 cubic yards, or about 13.5 tons on the truck. Order 12.5 to 13 yards for edges and low spots. Where the subgrade needs added height, install fill dirt first, then use topsoil only in the upper 4 inches for roots.
Screened topsoil and what to check in a load
Topsoil is the natural surface layer, containing organic matter. Screening uses mesh to remove stones, roots, and clods. It should look dark, feel crumbly, and have an earthy smell instead of a swamp odor. Press a moist handful into a loose ball and poke it: it should fall apart. A smooth ribbon points to heavy clay, while material that will not form a ball is mostly sand. Gray soil or a sour odor can result from wet, airless storage, and visible rhizomes can bring in weeds. Take a photo before spreading if something appears unusual.
Spread it the right way
- Break up the soil underneath to an inch of depth before spreading. Four inches of topsoil placed over sealed clay can trap water below.
- Slope the finished grade away from the house: allow a 6-inch drop across the first 10 feet.
- Pack it lightly, not hard. Properly settled topsoil should let a footprint sink about half an inch.
- Set delivery for the week of spreading. A pile hit by rain can weigh a third more per shovel and smear rather than rake cleanly.
Understanding a topsoil order
How much topsoil is needed for a new lawn?
What does a yard of topsoil weigh?
What does a yard of topsoil cost?
What area will a yard of topsoil cover?
What does topsoil mean?
Can topsoil go over existing grass?
For beds, topsoil or garden soil?
Should I till before applying topsoil?
More calculators
Finished the lawn math? We can deliver the soil.
Order screened topsoil by the cubic yard with free delivery across Washington.
