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Soil Calculator

Calculate measured bed fill, an explicit top-up allowance, and optional exact-package bags without assuming one soil recipe, settling rate, or bag size.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Measured inside bed dimensions, planned fill depth, an explicit settling/top-up allowance, optional exact bag volume, and entered bulk/bag prices
Output to expect
Base geometric fill, allowance-adjusted order fill, optional exact-package bag count, and scoped entered-price comparisons
How it works
Convert the entered depth to feet, calculate rectangular fill, apply only the entered top-up allowance, and divide by the exact package volume only when supplied
  • Choose depth and media/blend for the plants, bed, underlying surface and tested site; the arithmetic does not prescribe a universal soil recipe or settling percentage.
  • Verify drainage, contamination, compost/fertility, compaction, supplier units, delivery minimums and future top-ups before purchase and planting.

Choose your path

Built around the job you need to finish

Calculate measured bed fill and optional exact-package quantities while leaving soil recipe, planting depth, settling, drainage and contamination decisions explicit.

Gardener filling a new raised bed

Calculate inside geometric fill for a chosen planting depth.

Measure inside dimensions and use site/plant guidance to select depth and media.

Gets base and top-up volumes without a universal soil recipe.

Shopper comparing bagged and bulk media

Use the exact labeled bag volume and current quote.

Enter exact bag volume/price or zero to skip bags, plus the comparable bulk price.

Gets whole-package and bulk costs on auditable units.

Urban gardener checking site suitability

Keep drainage and contamination outside arithmetic.

Use the volume result only after underlying surface, source quality and soil-test/contamination checks.

Does not interpret cubic yards as evidence that the media or site is safe or suitable.

Authoritative checks for this tool

Outputs and checklists are planning aids. Review the linked current authorities and the records, terms, instructions, and requirements that apply to your exact situation before a consequential decision.

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Projects using Soil Calculator

This tool is part of these guided projects. Each project provides step-by-step instructions with checklists and all the tools you need in one place.

Landscape Site Decision Record

Coordinate one authorized landscape change through people, property, utilities, site evidence, approved planting and hardscape sources, bounded quantity scenarios, controlled work, monitoring, and named acceptance.

6 steps4 toolsStart project

Garden Start Decision Record

Coordinate one authorized garden from people, site and food/use goals through soil and climate evidence, approved beds/plants/products, bounded quantity and irrigation scenarios, controlled care, harvest, and named acceptance.

6 steps5 toolsStart project

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Reference & details

How it works

Measured geometric fill

Inside length and width are multiplied by fill depth converted from inches to feet.

Base cubic feet = length ft × width ft × depth in ÷ 12

Explicit top-up allowance

Only the percentage entered by the user is applied; no default soil-settling claim is hidden in the arithmetic.

Order fill = base fill × (1 + entered top-up% ÷ 100)

Exact package conversion

Whole bag count is calculated only when a positive exact package volume is entered; otherwise the package comparison is skipped.

Bags = ceil(order cubic feet ÷ exact bag cubic feet)

Updated: August 2026

Example Scenarios

A gardener measures the inside bed, chooses an appropriate depth/media, and calculates fill with an explicitly documented top-up allowance.

A shopper copies a 1.5-cu-ft package label and current price, then compares that whole-bag cost with a scoped bulk quote.

An urban gardener uses the volume only after checking drainage, underlying surface, media source and contamination risk.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming one bag size or settling rate

Copy the exact package volume and enter a justified site/supplier top-up allowance.

Treating fill volume as a soil recommendation

Select tested, suitable media, depth and drainage for the actual planting and site.

FAQ

No. Depth depends on the plants, root zone, bed construction and underlying surface. Use responsible local guidance for the actual site.

No. Media texture, organic matter, drainage, nutrients and contaminants need site- and material-specific evaluation. The tool only calculates entered fill volume.

Enter a top-up allowance from your supplier, material behavior or field plan. The calculator does not apply one universal settling percentage.

Yes. Enter zero for exact bag volume. If comparing packages, copy the labeled volume for the exact product; bag sizes are not universal.

Check inside dimensions, drainage, underlying surface, source quality, contamination risk, media suitability, compost/fertility, delivery minimums and future maintenance.

About Soil Calculator

Measure the bed’s inside fill dimensions, choose depth and media for the actual planting/site, and enter any supplier- or site-specific top-up allowance. Bag conversion uses only the exact labeled package volume.