How Much Topsoil for 100 Square Feet
How much topsoil do I need for 100 square feet?
Answer
That is 33.33 cubic feet, and it weighs roughly 2,460–3,075 lbs (1.23–1.54 tons) when dry.
At 4 inches deep one cubic yard of topsoil covers 81 square feet, so 100 square feet takes 1.23 cubic yards. The same patch under sand works out differently — sand is denser and normally goes down in a much thinner layer.
How the Volume Is Calculated
The 324 is not a fudge factor. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and a foot is 12 inches, so a cubic yard spread one inch deep covers 27 × 12 = 324 square feet.
100 square feet × 4 inches ÷ 324
=1.23 cubic yards
(33.33 cubic feet)
100 Square Feet at Other Depths
Depth scales the answer in a straight line, so the whole range fits in one table. Type any depth into the form above to work it out in full. The last column is the coverage of a single unit of volume, which is the number to keep in mind when a supplier quotes by the cubic yard.
| Depth | Topsoil needed | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 0.31 cubic yards | 324 square feet |
| 2 inches | 0.62 cubic yards | 162 square feet |
| 3 inches | 0.93 cubic yards | 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | 1.23 cubic yards | 81 square feet |
| 6 inches | 1.85 cubic yards | 54 square feet |
| 8 inches | 2.47 cubic yards | 40.5 square feet |
What It Weighs and What to Order
Volume is the exact half of this page; weight is the approximate half, and it is printed as a band on purpose. Penn State Extension gives 2,241 lbs per cubic yard for a dry silt loam and notes in the same breath that sandy soils run heavier and organic soils lighter — so a single figure would be false precision.
| Volume | 1.23 cubic yards |
| In cubic feet | 33.33 cubic feet |
| Weight, dry | 2,460–3,075 lbs |
| In tons | 1.23–1.54 tons |
| Order with 10% for waste | 1.36 cubic yards |
The 10% is quoted, not invented: the WSDOT Design Manual tells estimators to increase required quantities by 10% to allow for waste when material is stockpiled. Bagged topsoil states its volume on the bag, so divide the 33.33 cubic feet by whatever that bag holds.
Related Calculations
See Also
- Gravel Calculator - Area to cubic yards, tons and coverage
- Mulch Calculator - Area to cubic yards, bags and coverage
- Sand Calculator - Cubic yards, tons and coverage for any area
- Square Footage Calculator - Width × length in feet to square feet

Topsoil Needed at 4 inches Deep
| Area | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 30 square feet | 0.37 cubic yards | 740–925 lbs |
| 50 square feet | 0.62 cubic yards | 1,240–1,550 lbs |
| 60 square feet | 0.74 cubic yards | 1,480–1,850 lbs |
| 80 square feet | 0.99 cubic yards | 1,980–2,475 lbs |
| 100 square feet | 1.23 cubic yards | 2,460–3,075 lbs |
| 120 square feet | 1.48 cubic yards | 2,960–3,700 lbs |
| 150 square feet | 1.85 cubic yards | 3,700–4,625 lbs |
| 160 square feet | 1.98 cubic yards | 3,960–4,950 lbs |
| 200 square feet | 2.47 cubic yards | 4,940–6,175 lbs |
| 250 square feet | 3.09 cubic yards | 6,180–7,725 lbs |
| 300 square feet | 3.7 cubic yards | 7,400–9,250 lbs |
| 400 square feet | 4.94 cubic yards | 9,880–12,350 lbs |
| 500 square feet | 6.17 cubic yards | 12,340–15,425 lbs |
| 600 square feet | 7.41 cubic yards | 14,820–18,525 lbs |
| 800 square feet | 9.88 cubic yards | 19,760–24,700 lbs |
| 900 square feet | 11.11 cubic yards | 22,220–27,775 lbs |
| 1,000 square feet | 12.35 cubic yards | 24,700–30,875 lbs |
| 1,200 square feet | 14.81 cubic yards | 29,620–37,025 lbs |
| 1,500 square feet | 18.52 cubic yards | 37,040–46,300 lbs |
| 2,000 square feet | 24.69 cubic yards | 49,380–61,725 lbs |