Landscaping calculator

Soil calculator

Bulk soil volume with a visible depth allowance and purchase rounding.

Calculator result and formula

Bulk soil order: 2.5 yd³

Formula: Bed length × width × depth ÷ 27 × (1 + waste)

Formula ID: LAND-SOIL-001 · Version 1.0.0.

Inputs

  • Bed length: Finished landscape bed length Default: 12.
  • Bed width: Average finished bed width Default: 10.
  • Soil depth: Finished installed depth Default: 6.
  • Waste factor: Allowance for settling and grading variation Default: 10.

How this calculator works

This calculator turns a landscape bed's finished dimensions into a transparent bulk-soil volume with a visible settling and grading allowance.

  1. Measure the finished bed length and average width.
  2. Enter the desired installed soil depth rather than loose delivery depth.
  3. Apply an allowance for settling, grading and irregular geometry before requesting supplier pricing.

Worked example: Example: a 12 ft × 10 ft bed at 6 in depth contains about 2.22 yd³ of net soil. With a 10% allowance, the order rounds to 2.5 yd³.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Landscape bed geometry is treated as rectangular using average width.
  • Soil depth represents finished installed depth.
  • Bulk order is rounded to the next 0.1 yd³ after allowance.

Common questions

Does this select a soil type?
No. Confirm soil blend, density, drainage and local planting requirements independently.
Why is the order rounded up?
Bulk soil is commonly purchased in delivery increments, and rounding protects the planned finished depth.

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