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Calculation Machine

Raised Garden Bed Soil Calculator

Cubic feet and bags of soil for a raised garden bed.

Reviewed by James Whitfield · How we check our maths

Your values

ⓘ Live results

Results
Soil needed
32 cu ft
Bags needed
22
Cubic yards (for bulk order)
1.19 cu yd

Quick answer

Soil volume needed is bed length times width times depth, converted to bags based on bag size.

The formula

cu ft = length x width x depth; bags = cu ft / bag size

Worked example

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with.

Inputs

  • Bed length8 ft
  • Bed width4 ft
  • Soil depth12 in
  • Bag size1.5 cu ft

Result

  • Soil needed32 cu ft
  • Bags needed22
  • Cubic yards (for bulk order)1.19 cu yd

How to use the Raised Garden Bed Soil Calculator

  1. 1Measure the length and width of your raised bed and the fill depth you want.
  2. 2Check the cubic feet listed on your soil bag of choice.
  3. 3Buy bagged soil for small beds or order bulk soil by the cubic yard for larger beds.

Frequently asked questions

How deep should a raised bed be?

Most vegetables do well with 10-12 inches of soil depth; root crops may benefit from 12-18 inches.

Should I mix in compost?

Yes, a common mix is 60% topsoil, 30% compost and 10% aeration material like perlite for good drainage.

About this calculator