BuildMaterialCalc

Landscaping

How Much Does a Yard of Topsoil Weigh?

Quick Reference

At a glance

Topsoil weight by condition — per cubic yard
ConditionWeightTons
Dry, screened topsoil2,000 lbs1.0 ton
Standard moisture topsoil2,200–2,400 lbs1.1–1.2 tons
Wet topsoil after rain2,800–3,000 lbs1.4–1.5 tons
Compost-heavy garden mix1,400–1,800 lbs0.7–0.9 tons
Sandy loam2,400 lbs1.2 tons
Clay-heavy fill dirt2,800 lbs1.4 tons

How to calculate it yourself

Truck capacity in tons ÷ ~1 ton per yard = cubic yards delivered. A standard 5-yard dump truck holds 5–7 tons of topsoil depending on moisture.

Common scenarios

Lawn topdress, 1,000 ft² at ½ in deep

42 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.5 yd³ of topsoil ≈ 1.5 tons (3,000 lbs). One small delivery covers it.

4×8 raised garden bed, 12 in deep

32 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.2 yd³ ≈ 1.2 tons (2,400 lbs). Buy 2 yd³ to top it off after settling.

New lawn over 5,000 ft² at 4 in deep

61.7 yd³ × 1.1 = ~68 tons. That is 4–5 dump truck loads. Spread and grade in stages so you do not get rained out.

Related questions

Frequently asked

  • About 2,000 lbs dry, up to 3,000 lbs after a heavy rain. The number on the delivery ticket is usually the dry/screened weight.

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