You need about
0.65 cubic yards of topsoil
Includes 10% extra for waste. Weight assumes about 1.1 tons per cubic yard (range 0.9–1.25).
The working
4 ft × 4 ft × 12/12 ft = 16.0 cubic feet. Add 10% = 17.6 cubic feet. Divide by 27 = 0.65 cubic yards.
Change the numbers
What if it is a different depth?
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.11 | 0.12 | 4 |
| 3 in | 0.16 | 0.18 | 6 |
| 4 in | 0.22 | 0.24 | 8 |
| 6 in | 0.33 | 0.36 | 12 |
| 12 in (this page) | 0.65 | 0.72 | 24 |
What you will also need for topsoil
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Good to know
Spread topsoil 4 in at the very least and 4–6 in for a new lawn. For a raised bed, 12 in is a safe default fill depth, and deep-rooted vegetables can need more. Soil settles, so a little extra is normal.
This is the total fill volume. Do not fill a raised bed with straight topsoil: plan roughly 60 to 70% topsoil and 30 to 40% compost by volume (Utah State and Maryland extension guidance), and check your supplier for a ready-made raised bed mix.