On this page
Topsoil is sold by the cubic yard, weighed by the ton, and stacked at the garden center in 40 lb bags, three units for the same dirt, which is exactly why people over- or under-order it. The calculator below converts your area and depth into all three, with realistic 2026 bulk pricing, and the sections after it cover the depth you actually need per project and which soil product to order in the first place.
Topsoil Calculator
Estimated bulk cost: $156 - $375 before delivery ($40-$100 per trip). Screened topsoil sits at the low end, garden-mix blends at the high end.
How Deep Should Topsoil Be? (By Project)
| Project | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top-dressing before overseeding | 1/4 - 1/2" | Grass must show through; repeat yearly, don't bury |
| Leveling low spots | 1" per pass | Multiple thin passes beat one deep dump |
| Amending existing beds | 2-3" | Till or fork into the native soil |
| New lawn (seed or sod) | 4-6" | The minimum root zone over builder's subsoil |
| New planting beds | 6-8" | Use a compost-blended garden mix |
| Raised beds | 12"+ | Blend topsoil, compost, and a drainage amendment |
The new-construction case matters most in our area: builders routinely strip and sell the original topsoil, then spread an inch or two back over compacted clay. If your lawn struggles and water pools after rain, shallow topsoil over hardpan is usually why, the fix is more soil, core aeration, or both.
Screened Topsoil vs. Garden Mix vs. Fill Dirt
| Product | What it is | Use it for | 2026 bulk price/yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt | Subsoil, unscreened | Raising grades, filling holes | $10-$25 |
| Screened topsoil | Natural topsoil, sifted | Lawns, leveling, general use | $25-$45 |
| Garden mix / blended soil | Topsoil + compost | Planting beds, raised beds | $35-$60 |
| Compost | Pure organic matter | Amending, top-dressing | $30-$55 |
Delivery adds $40-$100 per trip. Many yards discount per-yard pricing at 5+ yards.
Rule of thumb: fill dirt raises grade, topsoil grows grass, garden mix grows plants. Don't pay garden-mix prices to level a lawn, and don't seed into fill dirt and expect much.
What Topsoil Costs in 2026
Bulk screened topsoil runs $25-$45 per cubic yard across most of the country in 2026, with blended garden soils at $35-$60. Bagged soil works out to $72-$216 per yard-equivalent, so the break-even against bulk-plus-delivery arrives at around half a yard. If a supplier quotes by the ton, figure about 1.3 tons per yard and compare from there.
Ordering & Spreading Tips
- Round up to the quarter yard, settling and pockets in the subgrade always eat more than the tape measure says.
- Have it dumped on a tarp close to the work area. A yard of soil moved twice is two yards moved.
- Spread with the back of a landscape rake, then water lightly and let it settle a day before seeding, you'll find the low spots the rake missed.
- Don't bury tree root flares. Adding more than an inch or two of soil over established tree roots can slowly kill the tree.
Finishing beds after the soil work? Our mulch calculator handles the top layer, and the gravel calculator covers stone and decorative rock with the same math.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet does a yard of topsoil cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches, and 54 square feet at 6 inches. The formula: cubic yards = (square feet × inches of depth) ÷ 324.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Roughly 1.1 to 1.4 tons (2,200-2,800 lbs) depending on moisture. Wet soil is dramatically heavier, which is why a standard half-ton pickup can only safely haul about a third of a yard.
How many bags of topsoil equal a cubic yard?
About 36 of the standard 40 lb bags (each holds roughly 0.75 cubic feet, and there are 27 cubic feet in a yard). At $2-$6 per bag that's $72-$216 per yard, bulk topsoil at $25-$60 per yard is far cheaper past the first few bags.
How much topsoil do I need for a new lawn?
Plan on 4-6 inches of quality screened topsoil for seeding or sod over poor subsoil. For a 1,000 sq ft lawn that's 12-18 cubic yards. If you're only leveling low spots or top-dressing before overseeding, a half inch to an inch is all you want per application.
What's the difference between topsoil, garden soil, and fill dirt?
Fill dirt is subsoil, cheap, dense, no organic matter, used to raise grades. Screened topsoil is the natural top layer, sifted for debris, and is the workhorse for lawns. Garden soil or garden mix is topsoil blended with compost, best for planting beds and raised beds where you want extra organic matter.
Want It Graded, Spread, and Seeded Instead?
Above the Lawn Services handles bed builds and custom landscaping plus core aeration across Manhattan, Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort, and the surrounding Will County, IL area. Call (815) 520-2558 or request a free estimate online.
Get a Free Estimate
