Measure Topsoil for Additon to the Garden

Measure Topsoil for Addition to the Garden

Measuring topsoil as an addition to any yard or garden is by volume. The volume of topsoil is sold by the cubic yard. The volume of one cubic yard is a cube that measures 3 feet long by 3 feet wide and is 3 feet tall. Multiplying all three measurements then equals 27 cubic feet which is a cubic yard. Topsoil is typically delivered in a large dump truck. The volume of the dump bed is generally described in cubic yardage.

List:
Tape measure

Measure the overall area of where the topsoil is to be needed. You will first want to measure the width of the area and then its length. The last measurement to be taken will be the depth of the topsoil that you want to add. As an example, the size of the area may be 25 feet wide and 35 feet long. The overall depth of topsoil to be added will be 4 inches.

Find the square area in feet by multiplying the 25-foot width times the 35-foot length. The square footage of the yard is equal to 875 square feet.

Convert the depth of 4 inches into an easy measurement of feet. Divide 4 inches by 12 inches per foot. The result is equal to 0.33 feet.

Multiply the depth of 0.33 feet times the square footage of the area which is 875 square feet. The result is 288.75 cubic feet.

Find the amount of topsoil needed in cubic yards. Divide 288.75 cubic feet by 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. The amount of topsoil needed for the area is equal to 10.69 cubic yards. You can round up that number to either 10.7 cubic yards or 11 cubic yards. The typically large dump truck is capable of carrying approximately 10 cubic yards of material.

Words to the Wise:
Circular areas can be found in the same manner as described above. The area "a" of a circle is equal to the radius "r" of that circle multiplied times itself, or squared "^2", times 3.1416. As a formula it reads (a = r^2 * 3.1416), where "r" is equal to half the diameter of the circle. A 10-foot diameter circle is equal to 78.5 square feet.

Some landscape companies may also sell topsoil by weight. Be sure to get their specific conversion of weight to cubic yards before buying any topsoil. Moisture content of the topsoil will greatly affect the amount of volume.