Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Uses rectangular inside dimensions; compare the result with bag or bulk-supply units.
Calculate cubic feet and cubic yards of soil for a rectangular raised bed.
length × width × (depth ÷ 12) = cubic feetHow Raised Bed Soil Calculator calculates volume
Enter inside growing dimensions when a thick frame reduces the usable bed. Depth is converted from inches to feet before multiplying the three dimensions.
Worked example: an 8 × 4 × 12-inch bed
8 × 4 × (12 ÷ 12) = 32 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards: about 1.19 cubic yards.
When to add a buying margin
Fresh mixes can settle after watering. If you are ordering loose material, compare the calculated volume with the supplier’s unit and allow a modest margin when you know the material settles heavily or the bed is irregular.
Measure the inside of the raised-bed frame
Frame thickness can reduce the actual soil rectangle, especially in small beds. Measuring the inside length and width prevents ordering from the outside footprint. The result can then be converted to bags or cubic yards.