How to use it
- Enter length in feet
- Enter width in feet
- Enter depth in inches and click Calculate
What it does – The calculator turns the dimensions of your planting bed, lawn patch, or garden bed into the exact volume of soil you’ll need. You type length and width in feet and depth in inches; the tool instantly gives you cubic yards (the standard order size), the equivalent tons (using 1.3 US tons per cubic yard), and the raw cubic‑feet figure.
Why it matters – Ordering too little soil means you’ll have to make extra trips, while ordering too much wastes money and space. Knowing the tonnage helps you compare bulk‑delivery prices that are often quoted by weight.
How to read the results – Cubic yards is the quantity to order from most suppliers. Multiply that by 1.3 to see the approximate tons. Cubic feet lets you double‑check against your project’s specifications.
Pro tips
- Add 5‑10 % extra for compaction and settling.
- Round up to the nearest 0.1 cubic yard to match supplier minimums.
- Order soil by the ton only if the vendor prices by weight; otherwise use cubic yards.
- Double‑check depth conversion (inches ÷ 12) to avoid under‑estimation.
Real-life examples
- A homeowner preparing a 12 ft × 15 ft garden bed 8 in deep.
- A landscaper needing soil for a 20 ft × 30 ft lawn patch 6 in deep.
- A DIYer filling a raised planter that’s 4 ft × 6 ft and 10 in deep.
Case study
Sarah needed soil for a new vegetable garden 12 × 20 ft at 6 in depth. Using the calculator she saw she required 1.78 cubic yards (≈2.3 tons). She ordered 2 cubic yards, avoiding a second delivery and saved $45.