Why topsoil weight varies
Water is the big one. A cubic foot of water weighs about 62.4 pounds, and soil can hold a lot of it in the spaces between particles. The same heap of topsoil can weigh hundreds of pounds more per yard after a week of rain than after a dry spell.
Texture matters too. Sandy topsoil packs more mineral grains into a yard and tends to be heavier. Topsoil rich in organic matter is lighter, which is why compost and garden soil blends weigh less.
Loose or packed. Delivered soil is loose and fluffy. Once it is spread, rolled and watered it settles, so a yard of loose soil takes up less space once it is firmed, while weighing the same.
That is why this site, and the calculator, give a range and use the middle for planning. If you are buying by weight or hauling it yourself, ask the supplier what their topsoil weighs per yard.
Topsoil yards to tons
| Cubic yards | Dry (1.0 t/yd³) | Middle (1.2 t/yd³) | Wet (1.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.5 tons | 0.6 tons | 0.7 tons |
| 1 | 1.0 tons | 1.2 tons | 1.4 tons |
| 2 | 2.0 tons | 2.4 tons | 2.8 tons |
| 3 | 3.0 tons | 3.6 tons | 4.2 tons |
| 5 | 5.0 tons | 6.0 tons | 7.0 tons |
| 10 | 10 tons | 12 tons | 14 tons |
| 15 | 15 tons | 18 tons | 21 tons |
Tons are US short tons of 2,000 pounds.
Topsoil tons to yards
Going the other way, divide tons by the weight per yard:
| Tons | Dry (1.0 t/yd³) | Middle (1.2 t/yd³) | Wet (1.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.0 yd³ | 0.83 yd³ | 0.71 yd³ |
| 5 | 5.0 yd³ | 4.2 yd³ | 3.6 yd³ |
| 10 | 10 yd³ | 8.3 yd³ | 7.1 yd³ |
| 20 | 20 yd³ | 16.7 yd³ | 14.3 yd³ |
So a per-ton order of wet soil gets you noticeably less volume. The coverage calculator shows how far a ton goes at different depths.
Weight of other soils and mixes
| Material | Pounds per cubic yard, about | Tons per cubic yard, about |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 2,000–2,800 | 1.0–1.4 |
| Top-dressing / sandy leveling mix | 2,200–2,800 | 1.1–1.4 |
| Garden soil (topsoil + compost) | 1,600–2,400 | 0.8–1.2 |
| Raised bed mix | 1,400–2,000 | 0.7–1.0 |
| Compost | 800–1,400 | 0.4–0.7 |
| Potting mix | 400–800 | 0.2–0.4 |
These are typical ranges for loose material. Products vary, so use your supplier’s figure when you have it.
Per cubic foot and per bag
Divide by 27 to get the weight of a cubic foot: bulk topsoil works out at roughly 74 to 104 pounds per cubic foot. Bagged topsoil is often drier and lighter than that, and bags are sold by volume, weight, or both. The weight printed on the bag is the one to trust for lifting and hauling.
Hauling it yourself
- Check your payload. A pickup’s payload rating is on the sticker inside the driver’s door. Many half-ton pickups are rated for less than the weight of a yard of wet topsoil. A half yard is a safer load for many of them.
- Check your trailer. Trailers have their own weight rating, and so do their tires and hitch.
- Ask the yard to load lightly if you’re not sure, and spread the load over the axle.
- Wet soil weighs more. If it has rained, assume the heavy end of the range.
What does a cubic yard of topsoil look like?
A cubic yard is a 3 × 3 × 3 ft cube: 27 cubic feet. In everyday terms:
- about four to five loads of a 6 cubic foot wheelbarrow;
- 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, or 36 bags of 0.75 cubic feet;
- enough to cover 324 square feet 1 inch deep, or 81 square feet 4 inches deep.
To work out how many yards your job needs, use the topsoil calculator. To compare per-ton and per-yard prices, see how much is topsoil.
Questions gardeners ask
- How much does 1 cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
- About 2,000 to 2,800 pounds (1 to 1.4 tons). A middle figure of about 2,400 pounds (1.2 tons) is a reasonable planning number.
- How many tons is 10 yards of topsoil?
- About 10 to 14 tons, or roughly 12 tons at the middle weight.
- How much does a cubic foot of topsoil weigh?
- About 74 to 104 pounds per cubic foot for bulk topsoil, depending on moisture. Bagged topsoil is often lighter; check the weight on the bag.
- Can a pickup truck carry a yard of topsoil?
- Often not safely. A yard can weigh 2,000 pounds or more, which is more than the payload of many half-ton pickups. Check the payload rating on the door-jamb sticker before you load.
- What does a cubic yard of topsoil look like?
- A cube 3 feet wide, 3 feet long and 3 feet tall, which is 27 cubic feet. It is about four or five loads of a typical 6 cubic foot wheelbarrow.