Free garden calculator
Raised-Bed Soil Calculator
Calculate cubic feet, cubic yards, liters, and common bag counts, with an optional settling buffer.
35.2cubic feet
1.30cubic yards
997liters
Equivalent bag counts1 ft³ bags36
2 ft³ bags18
0.75 ft³ bags47
1.5 ft³ bags24
Verify the bag’s printed volume and decide whether your full bed depth needs premium mix.
How it works
The method
Volume equals length × width × depth. Depth is converted from inches to feet, then the selected settling buffer is added.
Worked example
An 8 × 4 foot bed filled 12 inches deep holds 32 cubic feet before a settling allowance, or about 1.19 cubic yards.
Remember: Garden outputs are planning ranges. Weather, cultivar, soil, pests, sunlight, and care can materially change the result.
Read Gardiv’s full calculation methodology →
Common questions
Before you act on the number
Should I fill the entire bed with bagged mix?
Not necessarily. Deep beds may use safe bulk fill strategies, but root-zone material should suit the crop.
Why add a settling buffer?
Fresh mixes often settle after watering. Ten percent is a planning convenience, not a universal requirement.
Are bag sizes exact?
Use the volume printed on the actual product; nominal bag sizes vary.
