Soil Calculator

Category: Biology
- March 21, 2025
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Calculate the amount of soil needed for your landscaping or gardening project. This calculator helps determine soil volume, weight, and cost based on your measurements.

Select Area Shape

Depth

Soil Type

Cost Information (Optional)

Advanced Options

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About Soil Calculations

Understanding soil volume and weight calculations is essential for gardening, landscaping, and construction projects.

Common Units and Conversions
  • Volume: cubic feet (ft³), cubic yards (yd³), cubic meters (m³)
  • Area: square feet (ft²), square yards (yd²), square meters (m²), acres
  • Weight: pounds (lbs), tons, kilograms (kg)
  • 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
  • 1 ton = 2,000 pounds
Soil Types and Densities
  • Topsoil: 90-100 lbs/ft³
  • Garden Soil: 78-80 lbs/ft³
  • Mulch: 20-25 lbs/ft³
  • Compost: 40-50 lbs/ft³
  • Sand: 95-110 lbs/ft³
  • Gravel: 105-130 lbs/ft³
Tips for Soil Projects
  • Always add 10-15% extra soil to account for settling and wastage
  • For raised beds, measure the internal dimensions
  • When filling multiple containers, calculate each separately and add them together
  • Consider soil compaction over time, which may require additional soil later
  • For sloped areas, take measurements at several points and use an average
Area Calculation Methods
  • Rectangle: Area = Length × Width
  • Circle: Area = π × (Diameter/2)²
  • Triangle: Area = (Base × Height) ÷ 2
  • Irregular shapes: Divide into simple shapes, calculate each area separately, and add them together

What Is the Soil Calculator?

The Soil Calculator is an easy-to-use tool that helps you estimate how much soil you need for your gardening, landscaping, or construction project. Whether you're filling a raised bed, preparing a lawn, or leveling an area, this tool calculates the volume of soil required based on the shape and size of your area, the depth of soil needed, and the soil type.

Why Use This Calculator?

Planning a soil project can be tricky without the right numbers. This calculator helps you:

  • Know exactly how much soil to buy
  • Avoid purchasing too much or too little
  • Estimate weight for transportation planning
  • Calculate costs based on unit price or bag size
  • Visualize the dimensions of your project

How to Use the Soil Calculator

Follow these simple steps to calculate your soil needs:

  1. Select the shape of your area: Rectangular, Circular, Triangular, or Custom.
  2. Enter the dimensions of the area in your preferred units (feet, meters, yards, etc.).
  3. Specify the depth of soil you need.
  4. Choose the soil type to estimate the weight. You can also enter a custom density.
  5. Add cost information if you want a cost estimate. Choose whether you're buying by cubic yard, ton, or bag.
  6. Enable optional features like including wastage or displaying the estimated weight.
  7. Click "Calculate" to get your results instantly.

Formula Used

Volume = Area × Depth

This formula is the foundation of all calculations. The calculator determines the area of your chosen shape, multiplies it by the soil depth, and adjusts for factors like wastage or soil type.

Helpful Features

  • Supports different shapes and units for flexibility
  • Includes a 10% wastage option for more accurate ordering
  • Offers weight estimates for logistics planning
  • Shows costs per cubic yard, per ton, or per bag
  • Visual diagrams help you understand your layout
  • Breaks down the calculation steps clearly

Common Use Cases

  • Filling a raised garden bed
  • Laying down soil for new turf
  • Filling containers or pots evenly
  • Estimating delivery needs for bulk soil orders

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to know the exact dimensions of my area?

Yes, accurate measurements lead to better estimates. For uneven or sloped areas, average out your measurements for best results.

What if I only know the total area?

Select "Custom Area" and enter your known area directly, along with the soil depth.

How is weight calculated?

Weight is based on the selected soil type's density. You can also enter a custom density if needed.

What units can I use?

The calculator accepts feet, meters, and yards for dimensions; inches, centimeters, and feet for depth; and various options for cost and bag size.

Why include wastage?

Soil can settle, spill, or compact. Including 10% extra ensures you don’t run short during your project.

Final Thoughts

This Soil Calculator helps simplify your outdoor planning. With clear inputs and useful results, it takes the guesswork out of soil estimation. Use it to save time, money, and effort on your next landscaping or gardening task.