About this calculator
How much soil to fill one or more raised beds, with a settling allowance.
How it’s calculated
Volume = length × width × depth × number of beds × (1 + settling).
Worked example
With these inputs:
- Bed length
- 8 ft
- Bed width
- 4 ft
- Fill depth
- 12 in
- Number of beds
- 2
- Extra for settling
- 15%
the result is:
- Soil needed
- 73.6 cu ft
Tips from the trade
- Fill the bottom of very deep beds with logs and branches to save soil.
- Above about 1 cu yd, bulk delivery beats bags on price.
Results are estimates for planning and pricing. Check quantities against your drawings, the manufacturer’s data and the building code adopted in your province before ordering.