Topsoil and amendment calculator

Area times depth gives the volume of topsoil, sand, or compost to order before the sod goes down. It runs in this browser. Soddesk does not sell soil or amendments. Ask your supplier for the material, the price, the weight per yard, and what their truck hauls.

Depths below follow extension guidance for preparing soil before sod. A soil test, the site, and the spec decide what the job actually needs. Do not order fill you have not seen; AgriLife says a loam or sandy loam is best when you bring in topsoil.

Area (sq ft)

Measure it with the sod calculator; its “Topsoil and amendment” button fills this in.

Depth (inches)

The finished, settled depth of the layer you are adding.

Depth presets (tap to fill the depth)

Tight clay: OSU says at least 4 to 6 inches of loamy topsoil or coarse sand, mixed uniformly into the upper 2 to 4 inches of the soil below, to make a difference.
Sandy soil: OSU says 6 to 8 inches of loamy topsoil mixed into the upper 4 to 6 inches.
Organic matter: where the soil lacks it, OSU says add 10 to 15 percent by volume of well-decomposed peat or other organic material. AgriLife says to mix compost or similar organic matter thoroughly into the top 4 to 6 inches. The layer to spread is the mix depth times the percent; set your own below.
Both say to mix amendments in, not leave them as a layer on top.

Amendment by percent of a mix depth

Mix depth (in.)

Amendment by volume (%)

Compaction / overage %

Loose material settles after it is spread, rolled, and watered, and some is lost in spreading and grading. 10 to 15% is a starting assumption, not a figure from a source. Ask your supplier how their material settles.

Weight (tons per cu yd) (optional)

Placeholder, not from a source. Weight varies by material and moisture. Use your supplier's number.

Truck capacity (cu yd)

Placeholder. Ask your supplier what their truck hauls, by volume and by weight.

Material to order

Cubic feet (sq ft × inches ÷ 12): —
Cubic yards (cubic feet ÷ 27): —
Cubic yards with overage: —
Estimated tons (optional): —
Truckloads (rounded up): —

Tons are an estimate only. Weight varies by material and moisture; your supplier's ticket is the number that counts.

Start a job for the sod Site prep guide

Soddesk does not sell topsoil, sand, or compost. Ask your supplier. Start a job is for the sod; it receives the area in square feet if you entered one, nothing else from this page.

Sources

Oklahoma State University Extension, Establishing a Lawn in Oklahoma (HLA-6419) — cultivate the upper 8–10 inches, at least 4–6; tight clay: at least 4–6 inches of loamy topsoil or coarse sand into the upper 2–4 inches; sandy soil: 6–8 inches of loamy topsoil into the upper 4–6 inches; 10–15 percent by volume of organic material where it is lacking; incorporate, do not layer.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Turfgrass Establishment for Texas (SCSC-PU-079) — a soil depth of 10–12 inches is preferred; if the topsoil is not deep enough, bring in good topsoil (loam or sandy loam is best); mix organic matter into the top 4–6 inches; stockpile and respread topsoil when grading.
The Lawn Institute, Proper Planting — clay and sandy soils benefit from organic matter or amended topsoil incorporated evenly; tilling 4–6 inches improves drought tolerance.

The overage, weight, and truck-capacity defaults are placeholders, not from these sources.