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Raised Bed Soil Calculator

Topsoil and compost for one bed or ten, in bags and bulk, with settling built in.

Quick answer

One 4 x 8 ft raised bed filled 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet, about 1.2 cubic yards. Add about 10 percent for settling, so plan on roughly 1.3 cubic yards of mix.

Size

Units
Bed size 1

Project details

Soil mix

Adds local climate notes and goes into your copied order.

1.3 cu yd of soil mix. 32 cu ft of bed space plus 10% for settling

Your project

1.3 cu yd of soil mix

32 cu ft of bed space plus 10% for settling

Measured: 32 sq ft

HaulOnce order ticket

Raised bed soil

Ticket no.

411753

  1. 01Topsoil (60%)0.78 cu yd

    60% of 32 cu ft, plus 10% for settling

    Order: 1 cu yd bulk (1.1 tons) or 29 bags of 0.75 cu ft. Weighs 1,560 lb to 2,110 lb.

    Includes settling (+10%).

  2. 02Compost (40%)0.52 cu yd

    40% of 32 cu ft, plus 10% for settling

    Order: 1 cu yd bulk or 15 bags of 1 cu ft. Weighs 420 lb to 630 lb.

    Includes settling (+10%).

Before you start

  • Mix the parts on a tarp or in the bed before planting, not in layers.
  • Fresh beds settle in the first season. Top up with compost each spring.

Estimate from haulonce.com. Weights vary with moisture and supplier. Prices are examples unless you entered your own.

Haul Check

Typical 1,500 to 2,300 lb. We use the low end until you enter yours.

Check the Tire and Loading Information sticker on your driver's door jamb for your exact payload.

Payload1,720 lb of 1,500 lb (115%)
Bed volume (level full)0.78 of 2.11 cu yd (37%)

Topsoil hits your payload long before your bed is full.

That is 220 lb over your payload. You need 2 trips.

Split it into 2 loads of about 0.39 cu yd (860 lb) each, or get it delivered instead.

Using the low end of the typical payload range. Enter your own for an exact answer.

What pros know

  • Wet topsoil can weigh a quarter more than dry. After a rainy week, the same yard may not fit your payload. Source
  • Do not go over half an inch when topdressing an existing lawn. Thicker layers smother the grass. Source
0.8 cu yd
Drawn to scale: your pile is about 2.1 ft tall and 6.1 ft across, next to a full-size pickup and a 5 ft 9 in person. Shown: topsoil (60%).

Ready to text or email your supplier:

“I need 1 cubic yard of topsoil (screened) delivered.”

Add your ZIP code above to include it.

1.3 cu yd of soil mixSee plan

Choosing a mix

Two common home-garden mixes, not a university standard, but a good starting point:

  • 60% topsoil, 40% compost
  • Equal thirds: topsoil, compost, fine bark

Mix the parts on a tarp or right in the bed, not in layers. Fresh beds settle in the first season; top up with compost each spring.

Bags or bulk for raised beds

One or two small beds are a bag job. By about 2 cubic yards of mix, bulk is usually cheaper, and both topsoil and compost are often sold by the half yard. The calculator shows both for each part of the mix.

Common mistakes

  • Filling with bagged topsoil alone, which packs down hard.
  • Forgetting settling and ending up 2 inches short.
  • Using fill dirt, which has almost no organic matter.

Questions people ask

How much soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed?

At 12 inches deep, 32 cubic feet, or about 1.2 cubic yards. Add about 10 percent for settling.

How many bags of soil for a raised bed?

A 4 x 8 x 1 ft bed is about 43 bags of 0.75 cu ft or 32 bags of 1 cu ft before settling.

What is the best soil mix for raised beds?

A common home mix is 60 percent topsoil and 40 percent compost; another is equal thirds of topsoil, compost, and a coarse material like fine bark.

How deep should a raised bed be filled?

Most vegetables do well in 10 to 12 inches of soil; deeper beds help root crops and poor native soil.

Does raised bed soil settle?

Yes, often 10 to 20 percent in the first season. Top up with compost each year.

Sources

Last reviewed: . How we calculate

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