Soil Calculator

- May 10, 2025
| |

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

%

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 metres (m³)
  • Area: square feet (ft²), square yards (yd²), square metres (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

Understanding the Soil Calculator

The Soil Calculator is a handy tool designed for anyone looking to plan a gardening or landscaping project. Whether you're creating a new garden bed, filling a pond, or planning a landscaping overhaul, this calculator makes it easy to figure out how much soil you need. By inputting your area's dimensions and depth, you can quickly assess the volume, weight, and even cost of the soil required.

Selecting the Right Shape for Your Area

One of the first steps in using the Soil Calculator is selecting the shape of the area you wish to fill. The calculator supports various shapes, including:

  • Rectangular
  • Circular
  • Triangular
  • Custom areas

This flexibility means you can accurately calculate soil requirements for any project, no matter the design.

Easy Input of Measurements

Inputting measurements is straightforward. For rectangular areas, you'll enter the length and width. For circular areas, you'll just need the diameter. Triangular shapes require the base and height measurements. Each shape’s input section allows you to choose the units you prefer, such as feet, meters, or yards, to match your project's requirements.

Determining Soil Depth and Type

Next, you need to specify the depth of the soil. This is crucial for ensuring your plants have adequate support and nutrients. The calculator also asks for the type of soil you plan to use. Common types include:

  • Topsoil
  • Garden Soil
  • Mulch
  • Compost
  • Sand
  • Gravel

Choosing the right soil type helps you achieve the best results for your garden or landscape.

Calculating Costs Effectively

Estimating costs is another fantastic feature of the Soil Calculator. You can input the price of the soil, and it will calculate the total cost based on the volume required. This is particularly useful for budgeting your project effectively. You can even specify different pricing options like cost per cubic yard or price per bag, ensuring you have flexibility in your budgeting approach.

Overall Results and Visualisation

Once you’ve entered all your data, the Soil Calculator provides a clear summary of your results. You’ll see the total volume of soil needed, the estimated weight, and the overall cost. Plus, there's a visualisation feature that helps you better understand how the soil will fill your designated area. This can be very helpful for visualising your project before starting.

Understanding Soil Calculations

Knowing how soil calculations work can be beneficial. The calculator uses a simple formula for volume: Volume = Area × Depth. This means that the amount of soil you need directly relates to the area you're covering and how deep you want the soil to be. This formula is fundamental in planning your project accurately.

Helpful Tips for Your Soil Projects

Before you start buying soil, here are some quick tips to keep in mind:

  • Always add a little extra soil to account for settling.
  • Measure your area carefully to avoid underestimating the soil needed.
  • Consider the compaction of soil over time, which may mean needing more soil later.
  • If you're working on a slope, take measurements at various points to get an average.

Following these tips can help ensure your gardening or landscaping project is successful.