How Much Topsoil for 800 Square Feet

"Topsoil Calculator" Calculator

Area

at a depth of

in

How much topsoil do I need for 800 square feet?

Answer

800 square feet covered 4 inches deep takes
9.88 cubic yards

That is 266.67 cubic feet, and it weighs roughly 19,760–24,700 lbs (9.88–12.35 tons) when dry.

At 4 inches deep one cubic yard of topsoil covers 81 square feet, so 800 square feet takes 9.88 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

Cubic yards = ft² × inches ÷ 324

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.

800 square feet × 4 inches ÷ 324

=

9.88 cubic yards

(266.67 cubic feet)

The depth is our assumption, not a recommendation. We found no extension-service figure for how deep topsoil should go, the way there is one for mulch, so 4 inches is simply the layer this page starts from. Type your own depth into the form above, or read it off the table below.

800 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 inch2.47 cubic yards324 square feet
2 inches4.94 cubic yards162 square feet
3 inches7.41 cubic yards108 square feet
4 inches9.88 cubic yards81 square feet
6 inches14.81 cubic yards54 square feet
8 inches19.75 cubic yards40.5 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 9.88 cubic yards
In cubic feet266.67 cubic feet
Weight, dry 19,760–24,700 lbs
In tons 9.88–12.35 tons
Order with 10% for waste 10.87 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 266.67 cubic feet by whatever that bag holds.

Every weight here is dry weight. Soil picks up water and gets heavier — enough to matter if you are hiring a truck or checking a trailer's load rating.

Related Calculations

See Also

About "Topsoil Calculator" Calculator

This calculator works out how much topsoil an area needs: the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet, what it weighs, and how much one cubic yard covers. For example, it can help you find out how much topsoil do I need for 800 square feet? (The answer is: 9.88 cubic yards). Enter the area (e.g. 800 square feet), choose the unit; the answer assumes a layer 4 inches deep and the depth table covers the rest.

"Topsoil Calculator" Calculator

Area

at a depth of

in

Topsoil Needed at 4 inches Deep

AreaVolumeWeight
30 square feet0.37 cubic yards740–925 lbs
50 square feet0.62 cubic yards1,240–1,550 lbs
60 square feet0.74 cubic yards1,480–1,850 lbs
80 square feet0.99 cubic yards1,980–2,475 lbs
100 square feet1.23 cubic yards2,460–3,075 lbs
120 square feet1.48 cubic yards2,960–3,700 lbs
150 square feet1.85 cubic yards3,700–4,625 lbs
160 square feet1.98 cubic yards3,960–4,950 lbs
200 square feet2.47 cubic yards4,940–6,175 lbs
250 square feet3.09 cubic yards6,180–7,725 lbs
300 square feet3.7 cubic yards7,400–9,250 lbs
400 square feet4.94 cubic yards9,880–12,350 lbs
500 square feet6.17 cubic yards12,340–15,425 lbs
600 square feet7.41 cubic yards14,820–18,525 lbs
800 square feet9.88 cubic yards19,760–24,700 lbs
900 square feet11.11 cubic yards22,220–27,775 lbs
1,000 square feet12.35 cubic yards24,700–30,875 lbs
1,200 square feet14.81 cubic yards29,620–37,025 lbs
1,500 square feet18.52 cubic yards37,040–46,300 lbs
2,000 square feet24.69 cubic yards49,380–61,725 lbs

FAQ

How much topsoil do I need for 800 square feet?

800 square feet covered 4 inches deep takes 9.88 cubic yardsThat is 266.67 cubic feet, and it weighs roughly 19,760–24,700 lbs (9.88–12.35 tons) when dry.

How many cubic yards of topsoil is 800 square feet?

9.88 cubic yards, at 4 inches deep. The arithmetic is exact: 800 × 4 ÷ 324 = 9.88. One cubic yard spread an inch deep covers 324 square feet, which is where the 324 comes from.

How much does 800 square feet of topsoil weigh?

Roughly 19,760–24,700 lbs, or 9.88–12.35 tons, and that is dry weight. Penn State Extension gives 2,241 lbs per cubic yard for a dry silt loam; sandy soils run heavier and organic soils lighter, so the figure is printed as a band rather than a single number. Wet soil weighs noticeably more.

How much topsoil for 800 square feet at 1 inch?

2.47 cubic yards. Depth scales the answer straight up and down: at 1 inch one cubic yard covers 324 square feet, against 81 square feet at 4 inches.

How much topsoil should I order for 800 square feet?

10.87 cubic yards — the calculated 9.88 cubic yards plus 10%, rounded up. The WSDOT Design Manual tells estimators to increase required quantities by 10% to allow for waste when material is stockpiled, and loose soil settles after raking and watering.

See Also