Garden
Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Estimate how much soil you need to fill a raised bed, including common 1, 1.5, and 2 cubic foot bag counts.
Estimated material
8.15 cubic yards220 cubic feet with buffer200 square feet covered- 221 bags at 1 cu ft
- 147 bags at 1.5 cu ft
- 111 bags at 2 cu ft
Formula
bed length × bed width × bed height = soil volume
Raised bed mixes settle after watering. A 5–10% buffer usually prevents coming up short.
Quick reference
| Project size | Common use | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | Small bed or walkway | Good for testing bagged material prices |
| 250 sq ft | Medium garden or patio area | Bulk delivery may start making sense |
| 500 sq ft | Large lawn, driveway, or landscape zone | Measure carefully and add a buffer |
FAQ
How much soil for a 4×8 raised bed?
A 4×8 bed that is 12 inches deep needs about 32 cubic feet of soil before adding any buffer.
Should raised beds be filled completely to the top?
Leave a little room below the rim to reduce soil spillover when watering or adding mulch.