Garden soil calculator

For a standard 1 m × 3 m bed with a 20 cm layer you need 0.6 m³ of garden soil — 600 litres or 12 bags of 50 l. Enter your own dimensions in the calculator to get the exact figure.

Formula: volume (m³) = area (m²) × depth (m). Because depth is usually given in cm, divide by 100 first. Example: 5 m² × 0.25 m = 1.25 m³. The calculator handles the conversion automatically.

Convert volume to litres (m³ × 1,000), divide by 50 and round up. For 2 m³: 2,000 ÷ 50 = 40 bags. Buy one spare bag for top-ups. The calculator gives the rounded-up figure.

Garden soil is heavier (approx. 1.2–1.6 t/m³), mineral-rich and used in beds and borders. Universal (peat-based) compost is lighter and more porous — suited to pots and containers. The calculator uses 1.4 t/m³, typical for garden soil.

Garden soil weighs approximately 1.2–1.6 t/m³ depending on moisture and composition. The calculator uses 1.4 t/m³ as a reasonable midpoint. 1 m³ therefore weighs around 1,400 kg. A standard car can carry at most 500 kg.

For a new seeded lawn, a topsoil layer of at least 10–15 cm is recommended, ideally 20 cm. With layering (drainage sand + topsoil) allow 10 cm of drainage and 15 cm of soil. Use the calculator for each layer separately.

Yes — garden centres and builders merchants sell garden soil loose by the m³. This is cheaper than bags for larger quantities (above 3–5 m³). Factor in delivery cost and remember that loose soil takes up 20–30% more space before compaction.

One litre of garden soil weighs approximately 1.4 kg. Example: 500 litres × 1.4 kg/l = 700 kg. Peat-based compost is lighter at 0.5–0.8 kg/l. Check the manufacturer label for exact weight when calculating transport loads.

A single shrub is typically planted in a 50 × 50 × 50 cm hole, which is 0.125 m³ of soil. For a full border at 30 cm depth, you need 0.3 m³ (300 litres) per m². Enter the total border area in the calculator to get bags and tonnes.

Freshly poured soil is loose and contains air — after compaction volume decreases by 15–25%. Add a 20% buffer when ordering: if you need 1 m³ of compacted soil, order 1.2 m³ loose. The calculator shows loose volume, which corresponds to the purchase quantity.