How to Calculate Topsoil Volume in Cubic Yards With a Simple Formula

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A short guide explains that a topsoil calculator needs only one multiplication and one division, with most errors coming from measurement rather than arithmetic. Volume in cubic yards is found by multiplying length, width, and depth in feet, with depth in inches divided by 12, and then dividing by 27. Worked examples include a 4 by 8 foot raised bed at 6 inches deep, needing about 0.59 cubic yards, and a larger 10 by 12 foot bed at 4 inches, needing about 1.48 cubic yards. Round beds are handled by computing circular area from the diameter, and irregular shapes should be split into rectangles and summed. The author recommends averaging several depth readings and ordering about 10 percent extra soil to allow for settling.

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