Garden & Landscaping calculator
Soil Calculator
Estimate general planting-soil volume and mass for borders, infill or landscaping from area, fill depth and bulk density.
Estimate general planting-soil volume and mass for borders, infill or landscaping from area, fill depth and bulk density. Before calculating, confirm the measured geometry and any product specification entered into the form. Small errors in depth and bulk density can become significant across a full project. A planting mix, screened topsoil and heavy mineral soil can differ significantly in bulk density and settlement. Choose a material value that matches the actual soil.
What you need to enter
The Soil Calculator uses the following project information to calculate the result.
- Length
- Width
- Depth
- Material density
- Extra allowance (%)
Calculator result
Volume and estimated weight
How the Soil Calculator works
This page is built around volume = L×W×D; mass = volume×density. Applied to general soil volume for planting and landscaping, the engine first converts compatible measurements to a common basis and then calculates volume and estimated weight. Verify depth and bulk density before treating the output as a buying, sizing or set-out figure.
Soil Calculator worked example
Soil Calculator example: A border 10 m long, 1.2 m wide and 200 mm deep needs 2.40 m³ of soil. If delivery weight matters, apply the supplier's bulk density; otherwise use the cubic volume to compare bags, bulk bags or loose delivery. This example shows the arithmetic only; on a live job, review depth and bulk density before turning the result into an order or final size.
Important calculation assumptions
For general soil volume for planting and landscaping, a planting mix, screened topsoil and heavy mineral soil can differ significantly in bulk density and settlement. Choose a material value that matches the actual soil.
Frequently asked questions
Which inputs are most important in the Soil Calculator?
Measure length, width and finished layer depth. Use a density that matches the material in the condition it will be supplied or compacted. Those entries form the basis for estimating general soil volume for planting and landscaping.
What is the main uncertainty around depth and bulk density in the Soil Calculator?
Before relying on the Soil Calculator, check depth and bulk density. A planting mix, screened topsoil and heavy mineral soil can differ significantly in bulk density and settlement. Choose a material value that matches the actual soil.
What should I check before buying from the Soil Calculator result?
For the Soil Calculator, after calculating, use the density and bag/bulk coverage for the chosen soil blend. Planting mixes can be much lighter than mineral soil, so avoid a generic tons-per-cubic-metre assumption.