Topsoil calculator
For a new lawn, spread 100 to 150 mm of topsoil. At 100 mm, one tonne covers about 6.7 m².
- Bulk bags (1 tonne)
- 4
- Volume
- 2.40 m³
- Area
- 24.00 m²
6 × 4 m at 100 mm deep, using 1.5 tonnes per m³.
Topsoil settles after spreading, so order a little extra if you need an exact finished level.
How much topsoil per square metre
Using 1.5 tonnes per m³.
| Depth | Per m² | One tonne covers |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mm | 75 kg | 13.3 m² |
| 100 mm (new lawn) | 150 kg | 6.7 m² |
| 150 mm (lawn or border) | 225 kg | 4.4 m² |
| 200 mm (borders) | 300 kg | 3.3 m² |
| 300 mm | 450 kg | 2.2 m² |
How we calculate this
We multiply the area by the depth to get the volume, then by the weight of a cubic metre of topsoil to get tonnes.
Rolawn says one tonne of standard topsoil is about 0.67 m³, which is about 1.5 tonnes per m³. Wet or heavy soil weighs more, so change the weight if your supplier gives a figure.
Questions people ask
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Rolawn recommends 100 to 150 mm for turf or seed, and 150 to 200 mm for borders and ornamental planting.
How much does a tonne of topsoil cover?
About 6.7 m² at 100 mm deep, or 4.4 m² at 150 mm.
How do I work out topsoil for a raised bed?
Enter the inside length and width of the bed and its depth. Raised beds are often filled with a mix of topsoil and compost, so you may need less topsoil than the total.
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