Cubic Feet Soil Calculator

Gardening, landscaping, or any type of soil-based project requires precise measurement to avoid overbuying or underbuying materials. The Cubic Feet Soil Calculator is a handy tool designed to help you determine exactly how much soil you need for a specific space, container, or garden bed — saving you time, effort, and money.

Cubic Feet Soil Calculator

How to Use the Cubic Feet Soil Calculator

Using the Cubic Feet Soil Calculator is simple and intuitive. Just follow these steps:

  1. Measure the dimensions of the area where you need to add soil:
    • Length (in feet)
    • Width (in feet)
    • Depth (in inches)
  2. Enter the measurements into the calculator fields.
  3. Click the calculate button to get the total volume of soil required in cubic feet.

The calculator will instantly display how many cubic feet of soil are needed to fill the space. You can use this result to determine how many soil bags or bulk material you’ll need to purchase.

Formula Used in Cubic Feet Soil Calculator

The formula for calculating soil volume in cubic feet is:

Soil Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12

Explanation:

  • Length and width are measured in feet.
  • Depth is typically measured in inches, so we divide by 12 to convert it into feet.
  • The result is in cubic feet (ft³).

Example Calculation

Let’s say you’re filling a raised garden bed that is:

  • 6 feet long
  • 3 feet wide
  • 12 inches deep

Step-by-step:

  1. Convert the depth: 12 inches ÷ 12 = 1 foot
  2. Volume = 6 × 3 × 1 = 18 cubic feet

So, you will need 18 cubic feet of soil for this garden bed.

Why Use a Cubic Feet Soil Calculator?

Here are a few reasons this calculator is invaluable:

  • ✅ Avoid Overbuying – Don’t waste money on extra soil.
  • ✅ Precise Planning – Helps in estimating cost and logistics.
  • ✅ Saves Time – Skip the manual math.
  • ✅ Professional & DIY Friendly – Useful for landscapers, gardeners, and homeowners.

Soil Buying Tips Based on Cubic Feet

  • Bagged soil is often sold in sizes like 0.75, 1.0, or 1.5 cubic feet per bag.
  • Divide the cubic feet result by the bag size to find the number of bags needed.
    • For example, 18 cu ft ÷ 1.5 cu ft/bag = 12 bags

For bulk soil, suppliers often sell by the cubic yard (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet).

  • 18 cu ft ÷ 27 = 0.67 cubic yards

So you’d order approximately 0.67 cubic yards or round up to 1 yard depending on your margin of error.

Applications of Soil Volume Calculator

  • 🌱 Gardening
  • 🌼 Flower beds
  • 🧱 Raised beds and planters
  • 🌳 Tree planting
  • 🧰 Landscaping fill
  • 🪴 Container gardening

This tool supports residential, commercial, and agricultural soil estimation needs.

Additional Insights

  • Always measure internal dimensions of your garden beds or containers.
  • If soil settles over time, consider buying 5–10% extra.
  • Mix compost or mulch? Adjust volume based on mix ratio.

20 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a Cubic Feet Soil Calculator?
It’s a tool to determine how much soil is needed to fill a space, expressed in cubic feet.

2. How do I convert inches to feet in the calculator?
The tool automatically converts the depth from inches to feet using the formula.

3. Can I use it for round containers?
Yes, but you’ll need to calculate the volume of a cylinder first using a separate formula: π × radius² × height.

4. Is depth required in inches only?
Yes, the calculator assumes depth in inches and converts it to feet internally.

5. What if my area is not a perfect rectangle?
Break it into rectangular sections and add the volumes of each part.

6. How accurate is this calculator?
It gives a precise volume in cubic feet based on your entered dimensions.

7. Can I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Yes. Divide the result by 27.

8. How many soil bags do I need per cubic foot?
It depends on the bag size. For 1.5 cu ft bags, divide your total volume by 1.5.

9. What unit of length is accepted?
Feet for length and width, inches for depth.

10. Is this calculator suitable for landscapers?
Absolutely. It helps in large-scale soil planning and purchase.

11. How do I measure soil depth?
Use a ruler or measuring tape from the bottom of the bed to the desired fill height.

12. Can I use it for raised bed gardening?
Yes, it’s perfect for calculating soil for raised beds.

13. Does it account for soil compaction?
No. You should add 10% extra for compaction and settling.

14. Is it mobile-friendly?
Depends on your website, but the calculator itself should be usable on any device.

15. Can I calculate soil for multiple beds?
Yes, just add up the results from each bed’s individual calculation.

16. What’s the best soil type for raised beds?
A mix of topsoil, compost, and organic matter (often called “garden mix”).

17. Can it calculate mulch or gravel too?
Yes, the volume math is the same. Just change the material type.

18. Is it free to use?
Yes, this tool is 100% free for unlimited use.

19. Do I need to install anything?
No, just use it directly from your browser.

20. How do I know how much extra soil to order?
Add 5–10% to your total to account for settling and wastage.

Conclusion

The Cubic Feet Soil Calculator is an essential tool for anyone working with soil, whether it’s a small herb garden or a large landscaping job. It takes the guesswork out of soil measurement, helping you calculate the precise volume you need — quickly and effortlessly.