Raised Bed Soil Calculator (Cubic Feet, Yards and Bags)
Enter the bed’s length and width in feet and the soil depth in inches.
Your numbers
Your results
Soil needed (cu ft)
Soil needed (cu ft)
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Cubic yards
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Litres
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Bags
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Raised Bed Soil Calculator (Cubic Feet, Yards and Bags) by TheCalcTools
How the Raised Bed Soil Calculator (Cubic Feet, Yards and Bags) works
Volume = length × width × depth. With depth in inches, divide by 12 to get cubic feet; divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Bulk soil is usually sold by the cubic yard, bagged soil by the cubic foot.
Fresh soil settles 10% to 20% in the first season, so many gardeners buy a little extra.
The formula
cu ft = L × W × (depth in ÷ 12); cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Length (ft) | 8 |
|---|---|
| Width (ft) | 4 |
| Soil depth (in) | 12 |
| Number of beds | 1 |
| Bag size (cu ft) | 1.5 |
- 8 × 4 ft at 12 in deep: 32.0 cu ft (1.19 cu yd), 22 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
Result:
| Soil needed (cu ft) | 32.0 |
|---|---|
| Cubic yards | 1.19 |
| Litres | 906 |
| Bags | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
How much soil for a 4 × 8 bed 12 inches deep?
32 cubic feet, about 1.19 cubic yards or 22 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.