Free Soil Calculator
Calculate soil volume for gardens, pots & raised beds.
Why Calculate Soil Quantities Accurately?
Accurate soil calculation saves time, money, and prevents material waste on your landscaping or construction projects. Whether you're filling garden beds, creating pathways, or preparing construction sites, knowing exactly how much material you need ensures efficient project planning and execution.
Our advanced soil calculator handles complex calculations across multiple measurement systems, automatically converting between metric and imperial units while considering material density for precise weight estimations.
Multi-Unit Support
Work with meters, feet, inches, centimeters, yards, hectares, acres, and square feet - all automatically converted.
Density Calculations
Calculate weight based on material density - essential for ordering soil, gravel, mulch, or other materials by weight.
Live Calculations
Results update instantly as you type - no need to click calculate. See changes in real-time.
How to Use the Soil Calculator
Our calculator makes complex soil calculations simple. Follow these steps to get accurate material estimates:
Enter Project Dimensions
Input length and width to calculate area, or enter area directly if you already know it. Use any measurement unit - our calculator automatically handles conversions.
Specify Depth Requirements
Enter the desired depth of material needed. This could be soil depth for garden beds, mulch thickness, or gravel depth for pathways.
Add Material Density (Optional)
For weight calculations, enter material density. Common densities are pre-configured, or you can enter custom values from your supplier.
Review Results
Get instant calculations for area, volume, and weight. View results in multiple units for easy comparison and ordering.
Pro Tip: Accounting for Settlement
Soil and mulch materials settle over time. For garden beds and landscaping projects, consider ordering 10-15% extra material to account for settlement and ensure you have enough coverage after the material settles.
Common Material Densities
Different materials have different densities, which affects how much they weigh per unit volume. Here are common densities for reference:
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | Density (lb/ft³) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil (dry) | 1,200 - 1,600 | 75 - 100 | Gardening, lawns, plant beds |
| Topsoil (moist) | 1,600 - 2,000 | 100 - 125 | Garden preparation, landscaping |
| Potting Soil | 800 - 1,200 | 50 - 75 | Containers, raised beds, pots |
| Mulch (wood chips) | 400 - 800 | 25 - 50 | Weed suppression, moisture retention |
| Sand (dry) | 1,600 - 1,800 | 100 - 112 | Construction, paving, drainage |
| Gravel | 1,600 - 2,000 | 100 - 125 | Driveways, pathways, drainage |
| Compost | 600 - 1,000 | 37 - 62 | Soil amendment, organic gardening |
Practical Applications
Our soil calculator serves numerous professional and DIY applications across different project types:
Gardening
Calculate soil for raised beds, garden plots, and plant containers
Landscaping
Estimate materials for lawns, flower beds, and landscape features
Construction
Calculate fill material, gravel, and sand for construction sites
Mulching
Determine mulch quantities for garden beds and tree surrounds
Agriculture
Calculate soil amendments and compost for agricultural use
Hardscaping
Estimate gravel, sand, and base materials for patios and pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
For irregular shapes, break the area into smaller rectangles or squares, calculate each separately, then add the results. Alternatively, measure the maximum length and width to get an approximate area calculation, then consider adding a 10-15% buffer for irregular edges.
Most suppliers sell soil, mulch, and gravel by volume (cubic yards or meters) for bulk delivery, or by weight for bagged products. Use our calculator to get both measurements, then check with your supplier which measurement they prefer. Volume is more common for bulk materials, while weight is typical for bagged products.
We recommend ordering 10-15% extra material to account for settling, spillage, and minor measurement inaccuracies. For projects requiring precise grades or levels, order the calculated amount plus 5-10%. For general gardening and landscaping, 10-15% extra is usually sufficient.
Yes! Calculate each area separately using our calculator, then add the results together. For complex projects with multiple different materials or depths, we recommend calculating each section separately, then summing the totals for each material type.
Our density calculations provide excellent estimates for planning and ordering. Actual weight can vary based on moisture content, compaction, and specific material composition. For critical projects, consult with your material supplier for precise density values of their specific products.
Ready to Plan Your Project?
Calculate exact material quantities for your gardening, landscaping, or construction project. Save time, money, and eliminate guesswork with our comprehensive soil calculator.
Calculate Soil Needs Now