Soil calculator for Arkansas
Find the cubic yards for beds, planters, and yard work, then select soil suited to the use.
Enter your project dimensions
A 4 x 8 raised bed at 12 inches deep takes 32 cubic feet of soil, or 1.2 cubic yards. That amount often catches new bed builders off guard when they planned on only a few bags. Use this calculator for any planter, bed, or yard area and select the soil type for the project. Garden soil weighs about 2,000 lb per cubic yard, screened topsoil weighs 2,200, and fill dirt weighs 2,400. Select the material you plan to order so the ton estimate matches.
Three steps for bed math
- Enter every bed or planter size in feet. Multiple-areas mode combines the entries as you go.
- Match depth to the job: use 4-6 inches to refresh a bed, 6 inches for a new bed in the ground, or 12 inches to fill an empty raised planter.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.0 to 1.2 for tons based on soil type.
Tons = yards × 1.0 (garden soil) · 1.1 (topsoil) · 1.2 (fill dirt)
Coverage and weight
| Soil type | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Garden soil (blended with compost) | ≈ 2,000 lb | 1.00 |
| Topsoil (screened) | ≈ 2,200 lb | 1.10 |
| Fill dirt | ≈ 2,400 lb | 1.20 |
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 3 yards cover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 486 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 243 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 12 inches, raised bed | 27 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
Choose soil for the work
- For vegetable patches, flower beds, and planters, use garden soil blended with compost for planting.
- For lawn work and final grading, choose screened topsoil. The Topsoil Calculator includes lawn-depth options and examples.
- Use fill dirt for filling holes and changing grade, then reserve growing soil for the planting layer.
- Rather than replace an entire bed with tired native soil, mix 2-3 inches of garden soil into the upper 6 inches. It costs less and helps roots establish sooner.
Fill raised beds for less
For raised beds over 18 inches tall, use a lower third of less costly material, such as fill dirt or organic material that breaks down where it sits. Place 8-12 inches of garden soil above it for plant roots. Figure each layer in a separate calculator run. April is a common month for raised-bed projects. Measure the 12-inch top layer instead of estimating it.
Example: three 4 x 8 beds
At 12 inches deep, Ninety-six square feet of bed contains 96 cubic feet. That works out to 3.6 cubic yards and about 3.6 tons of garden soil. Order 4 yards. Compost in blended soil consolidates in the first weeks, causing roughly 10% settling, and the extra material can refill the beds afterward.
Improve clay and sand in place
Clay sheds water slowly, while sandy ground loses moisture quickly and leaves plants short between watering. Address both by working 2-3 inches of compost-blended garden soil into the top 6 inches for a couple of seasons. That uses a third of the material and labor required for replacement. As roots and worms move through the mix, the soil continues to improve. Replace soil to full depth only where debris or contamination makes the existing ground unsuitable.
Bulk soil or bags
A cubic yard is about 36 bags at 40 lb, while one raised bed can become a 43-bag job. Loading 43 bags twice is a lot of work. Bulk costs less per cubic foot, comes in one tip, and free delivery means no truck fee to recover. Bags make sense for topping one planter. Put the load on a tarp because soil can stain concrete, then drag and fold the tarp for cleanup.
Soil math for beds and bags
What soil amount fits a 4x8 raised bed?
How do garden soil, topsoil, and fill dirt differ?
How many soil bags equal one cubic yard?
How many yards of dirt are required for beds?
Will bulk soil settle after placement?
Is delivered garden soil ready to plant in?
More calculators
Measured the beds? Order soil online.
Order garden soil, topsoil, and fill dirt by the yard with free delivery included.
