Bulk versus bagged soil
Bulk soil is often sold by cubic yard, while bagged products may use liters, quarts or cubic feet. Soil also settles after watering and compaction.
Example
A 12 ft by 4 ft bed filled 8 inches deep is 32 cubic feet before extra allowance. With 10% extra, the estimate is 35.2 cubic feet, or about 1.3 cubic yards.
Common mistakes
Convert depth from inches to feet before multiplying. Also account for existing soil, raised-bed boards, paths and settling after watering.
Limitations
This is a volume estimate only. It does not choose soil type, drainage mix, compaction level, delivery minimums or plant-specific growing requirements.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17