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Soil Calculator
Use this free soil calculator before you order soil for a garden bed, lawn or planter. Enter the length, width and depth, and it works out the volume in cubic metres, cubic feet and litres, the weight, how many 25 kg or 40 litre bags cover it, and the cost.
Leave the price at 0 if you only want volumes and bag counts. Densities are typical values — real soil varies with moisture.
| Volume | 7.5 m³ |
| Volume (cubic feet) | 264.9 ft³ |
| Volume (litres) | 7,500 litres |
| Weight | 9,750 kg |
| 25 kg bags needed | 390 bags |
| 40 litre bags needed | 188 bags |
| Estimated cost (25 kg bags) | ₹1,17,000 |
How to use this tool
- Measure the length and width of the bed or lawn and type them in — metres or feet, your choice.
- Enter how deep the soil layer should be, in centimetres or inches. Lawns need 10–15 cm; vegetable beds 20–30 cm.
- Pick the soil type for a realistic weight, or choose Custom density and type your own value.
- Add the price of one 25 kg bag if you want the cost.
- Order about 10% extra — soil settles after the first few waterings.
How it works
Soil is measured three different ways at once — by volume in the ground, by litres in bags, and by weight on a delivery note — and this calculator converts between the three. First it finds the volume: length × width × depth, with everything converted to metres. A cubic metre of volume is exactly 1,000 litres, and about 35.31 cubic feet, so those two conversions are fixed.
The weight is where soil surprises people. The bridge is density — how many kilograms one cubic metre of the soil weighs. Dry topsoil is roughly 1,200 kg per cubic metre; the same soil after rain, about 1,400; sandy soil up to 1,600. Compost and potting mixes are far lighter at roughly 650, because they are full of air and organic matter. The four presets are typical mid-range values; the custom field lets you use your supplier's figure. Bag counts are always rounded up — a part-filled area is worse than one spare bag, which keeps well in a dry shed.
The cost line multiplies the 25 kg bag count by the price you enter, in the currency selected at the top of the page. For big areas the number is a useful shock: bagged soil is convenient but pricey, and past half a cubic metre or so, a bulk bag (usually about 750 litres) or a loose delivery is normally far cheaper per litre. Compare the bag cost with one bulk quote before ordering.
Soil needed at 15 cm depth — quick table
Fifteen centimetres is the standard depth for a new lawn or flower border. Weight and bags assume soil at 1,300 kg per cubic metre.
| Area | Volume | Litres | Cubic Feet | Weight | 25 kg Bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m² | 0.15 m³ | 150 litres | 5.3 ft³ | 195 kg | 8 bags |
| 5 m² | 0.75 m³ | 750 litres | 26.5 ft³ | 975 kg | 39 bags |
| 10 m² | 1.50 m³ | 1,500 litres | 53.0 ft³ | 1,950 kg | 78 bags |
| 25 m² | 3.75 m³ | 3,750 litres | 132.4 ft³ | 4,875 kg | 195 bags |
| 50 m² | 7.50 m³ | 7,500 litres | 264.9 ft³ | 9,750 kg | 390 bags |
Worked example
A vegetable patch 10 metres long and 5 metres wide needs soil 15 cm deep. The supplier's soil density is 1,300 kg per cubic metre, and 25 kg bags cost ₹300 each.
Step 1: Area: 10 × 5 = 50 square metres.
Step 2: Volume: 50 × 0.15 = 7.5 cubic metres.
Step 3: In other units: 7.5 m³ = 264.9 cubic feet = 7,500 litres.
Step 4: Weight: 7.5 × 1,300 = 9,750 kg.
Step 5: Bags: 9,750 ÷ 25 = 390 bags of 25 kg — or 7,500 ÷ 40 = 187.5, so 188 bags of 40 litres.
Step 6: Cost by the bag: 390 × ₹300 = ₹1,17,000.
Enter those same numbers — 10 m by 5 m, 15 cm deep, custom density 1,300, ₹300 a bag — and the calculator gives exactly 7.5 m³, 9,750 kg and 390 bags. At nearly ten tonnes, this job belongs on a bulk delivery, not in 390 separate bags.
FAQ
How much soil do I need for a raised bed?
Multiply the inside length by the inside width by the soil depth, all in the same unit. A raised bed 2 m long and 1 m wide filled 30 cm deep needs 2 × 1 × 0.30 = 0.6 cubic metres — 600 litres, or about 780 kg of typical soil. Most gardeners fill raised beds 25–40 cm deep for vegetables.
How much does a cubic metre of soil weigh?
Roughly 1,200 to 1,600 kg when it is dug soil — dry topsoil is near 1,200 kg per cubic metre, moist soil about 1,400, and wet sandy soil up to 1,600. Bagged compost is much lighter at around 650 kg per cubic metre. A cubic metre is a serious load: it needs a pickup or bulk bag, not a car boot.
How many 25 kg bags of soil are in a cubic metre?
At a typical density of 1,300 kg per cubic metre, one cubic metre weighs 1,300 kg, which is 52 bags of 25 kg. The number changes with the soil: dry topsoil at 1,200 gives 48 bags, while light compost at 650 kg per cubic metre is only 26 bags by weight — though compost is usually sold by the litre instead.
How deep should topsoil be for a lawn or vegetable bed?
For a new lawn, 10–15 cm of topsoil over loosened ground is enough. Vegetable beds do better with 20–30 cm, because roots need depth and the soil holds water better. Flower borders are happy with 15–20 cm. If you are improving poor soil rather than building depth, even 5 cm of compost dug in makes a visible difference.
Why is soil sold in both litres and kilograms?
Because both are awkward in different ways. Soil is bulky and varies in density, so bagged compost and potting mix are sold by volume (litres) — the size of the bag. Heavy topsoil in 25 kg bags is sold by weight. This calculator shows both: litres for the bag volume, kilograms for the bag weight and whether your vehicle can carry them.
Should I buy soil in bags or in bulk?
For anything over about half a cubic metre, a bulk bag or loose delivery is usually cheaper per litre and saves dozens of plastic bags. Small jobs — one raised bed, a few planters — are easier with 25 kg bags you can carry one at a time. Add about 10% extra either way: soil settles after watering, so the level drops in the first weeks.
Note: soil densities are typical values and vary with moisture and how much the soil is compacted. Add about 10% to any order to allow for settling.