Soil Calculator

Calculate how much soil you need for garden beds and raised beds. Includes soil mix recipes, cost estimates, and preset raised bed sizes.

Garden Bed Type

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)

Total area: 32.0 sq ft at 12" deep

Soil Mix Recipe

Soil Estimate: Standard Garden

Cubic Yards

1.19

for bulk order

Cubic Feet

32.0

total volume

1 cu ft Bags

standard bags

2 cu ft Bags

large bags

Mix Breakdown: Standard Garden

Topsoil (60%)19.2 cu ft

Compost (30%)9.6 cu ft

Perlite (10%)3.2 cu ft

Best for: Flowers, shrubs, general landscaping

Cost Estimate

Bulk / Delivery

$30 - $47

1.19 yards @ $25-$40/yard

+ delivery fee ($40-$80 typical)

Bagged (1 cu ft bags)

$160 - $256

32 bags @ $5-$8 per bag

No delivery needed for small projects

Raised Bed Soil Volume Reference

Bed Size	6" deep	12" deep	18" deep	24" deep
4' x 4'	0.30 yd	0.59 yd	0.89 yd	1.19 yd
4' x 8'	0.59 yd	1.19 yd	1.78 yd	2.37 yd
3' x 6'	0.33 yd	0.67 yd	1.00 yd	1.33 yd
2' x 8'	0.30 yd	0.59 yd	0.89 yd	1.19 yd
4' x 12'	0.89 yd	1.78 yd	2.67 yd	3.56 yd
3' x 3'	0.17 yd	0.33 yd	0.50 yd	0.67 yd

Soil settles about 10-15% after watering. Consider adding extra to account for settling.

How to Use Soil Calculator

1Select bed shape and enter dimensions
2Set soil depth
3Choose a soil mix recipe
4View volume and cost breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

How much soil does a raised bed need?▾

A 4x8 ft raised bed at 12 inches deep needs about 1.2 cubic yards (32 cubic feet) of soil. Use Mel's Mix (1/3 each compost, peat moss, vermiculite) for best results.

Should I use topsoil or garden soil?▾

Topsoil is natural earth good for filling. Garden soil is topsoil amended with compost and nutrients. For raised beds, use a mix of garden soil and compost for best growing results.

How deep should soil be for a garden?▾

Most vegetables need 12-18 inches. Root vegetables like carrots need 18-24 inches. Herbs and lettuce do well with 6-12 inches.

About Soil Calculator

Calculate how much soil you need for garden beds and raised beds. Includes soil mix recipes, cost estimates, and preset raised bed sizes.

NexTool's Soil Calculator is completely free to use with no sign-up required. Your data is processed directly in your browser and never sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy and instant results.