Estimated Cost (bulk): Rough cost if you buy soil by the cubic yard in bulk delivery, using an average of $40 per cubic yard. Local prices vary significantly.
Total Cubic Feet: Volume of soil needed across all beds — useful when comparing bagged products sold by the cubic foot.
Total Cubic Yards: The standard bulk-delivery unit. Most landscape suppliers sell and deliver soil by the cubic yard.
Bags (1 cu ft / 2 cu ft): Number of standard bagged soil you'd need from a garden center, in both common sizes.
How This Calculator Works
You enter each raised bed's inside length, width, and depth in inches, plus how many identical beds you have. The tool converts inches to feet, multiplies the three dimensions for per-bed volume, then multiplies by the number of beds. It converts to cubic yards, rounds up to whole bags in both 1 and 2 cubic-foot sizes, and estimates bulk cost at $40 per cubic yard.
Quick Questions
Should I fill the entire depth with garden soil?
For beds deeper than 12 inches, many gardeners fill the bottom third with rough compost or fill soil and top off with premium garden soil to save money.
Does soil settle after filling?
Yes. Fresh soil typically settles 10–20% over the first few months. Consider adding a bit extra or topping off after the first season.
Bags or bulk — which is cheaper?
Bulk delivery is almost always cheaper for volumes over about 1 cubic yard. Below that, bags may be more convenient despite the higher per-unit cost.
What soil mix should I use for raised beds?
A popular recipe is one-third topsoil, one-third compost, and one-third peat moss or coconut coir. Many suppliers sell a pre-mixed raised-bed blend.