Raymond WhitneyDo you wish to know how much one cubic yard of topsoil weighs? The average weight of topsoil ranges from 1,800 to 2,700 pounds. This varies with soil density and added moisture.
Ordinarily, adding topsoil or dirt is required for landscaping projects that involve planting and gardening.
And knowing how much it weighs helps determine the most efficient method of transporting the topsoil to your home.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh, and how do you determine how much you require?
The answer to the first question depends on the composition of the soil, while the second question requires some math.
This article describes what topsoil is, how to measure it, what a cubic yard looks like, and how much it weighs.
What Is Topsoil?
Typically, the top four to twelve inches of naturally occurring soil contains all the organic matter, including the nutrients and minerals required for plant growth. Consider the soil profile below for a visual explanation.
In this natural soil profile, the topsoil would consist of both O (uncomposted organic matter) and A (organic matter that has been decomposed) (surface soil containing decomposed organic matter, nutrients and minerals).
When land is cleared for development, these top layers are typically scraped off and sold as topsoil to soil companies or garden centres.
Before making its topsoil available to consumers, a company that provides high-quality topsoil frequently adds additional organic matter and even fertiliser.
Fill Dirt Vs Topsoil
There are two primary varieties of soil: fill dirt and topsoil. The former is found beneath the topsoil and is typically composed of less organic and more rocky material.
It is frequently used to fill holes and raise the ground. It provides a stronger foundation because it does not decompose as quickly as topsoil.
The darker-colored, uppermost layer of soil is known as topsoil. It is typically between 4 and 12 inches in depth and contains more organic matter and nutrients than fill dirt.
This layer is where microorganisms are most active. This and the fact that it provides plants with more oxygen make it superior for gardening.
As air pockets collapse, however, topsoil tends to decompose because it contains more organic matter. Therefore, it is only suitable for the topmost layer of a landscape.
It is also more susceptible to erosion than fill dirt. Therefore, always apply topsoil on top of fill dirt after the fill dirt has been compacted.
How Much Does A Yard Of Topsoil Weigh?
The weight of topsoil is determined by its moisture content and density. Density refers to the amount of space occupied by one cubic foot, while moisture content indicates whether the soil is moist or dry.
Using the standard soil density of 100 lbs/ft3, you can determine that one cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 2,700 pounds. This can be less or more depending on the soil’s moisture content and other constituents.
Measuring Topsoil
Typically, topsoil is measured in cubic yards. A cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet, and a cubic foot has dimensions of 12 by 12 by 12 inches.
Dirt Connections describes two methods for determining the quantity of topsoil required:
Method 1
Consider a flower bed that is six inches deep, twelve feet long, and twelve feet wide. Follow the steps below:
Convert Every Unit Of Measure To Feet
Six inches is equal to half a foot.
Find the number of cubic feet by multiplying the length, width, and height.
0.5 multiplied by 2 multiplied by 12 feet equals 72 cubic feet.
Calculate the number of cubic yards by dividing the number of cubic feet.
To fill your flower bed, divide the number of cubic feet by 27.72 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet = 2.67 cubic yards.
Method 2
Considering that you have a flower bed with the same dimensions as before, try the following:
Convert The Foot And Inch Measurements To Yards
A yard contains 36 inches, so six inches equals 0.167 yards. Three feet equal one yard, so 12 feet equals 4 yards.
Multiply the yard measurements by themselves to obtain the number of cubic yards.
Using the same values, an example calculation would be 0.167 yards times 4 yards, which equals 2.67 cubic yards.
Using An Online Topsoil Calculator
For Your Attempt If you don’t know exactly how many cubic yards of topsoil you need, an online calculator can help you estimate how much to purchase. This is an excellent online soil calculator.
How much does a yard of soil weigh
Depending on density and moisture content, a cubic yard of soil, which is visually 3 feet long by 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall, can weigh anywhere from 1400 to 2000 pounds or 0.7 to 1 tonne or even more. A cubic yard of 40-pound bagged soil weighs 1,440 pounds or 0.72 tonnes.
How much do 2 yards of topsoil weigh?
The weight of 2 cubic yards of topsoil can range from 2,800 to 4,000 pounds or even more. If the weight of topsoil is in tonnes, then 2 yards of topsoil weighs between 1.4 and 2.0 tonnes.
How much do 3 yards of topsoil weigh?
The weight of 3 cubic yards of topsoil can range from 4,200 to 6,000 pounds or even more. If topsoil is measured in tonnes, then 3 yards of topsoil weigh between 2.1 and 3.0 tonnes.
How much do 5 yards of topsoil weigh?
The weight of 5 cubic yards of topsoil can range from 7,000 to 10,000 pounds or even more. If the weight of topsoil is in tonnes, then 5 yards of topsoil weighs between 3.5 and 5.0 tonnes.
How much do 10 yards of topsoil weigh?
The weight of 10 cubic yards of topsoil can range from 14,000 to 20,000 pounds or even more. If topsoil is measured in tonnes, then 10 yards of topsoil would weigh between 7 and 10 tonnes.
In response to the question, “how much does a yard of topsoil weigh? “, a yard of topsoil can weigh anywhere from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds or more; if topsoil weight is measured in tonnes, then a yard of topsoil equals between 0.7 and 1.0 short tonnes.
There are different types of topsoil materials used for landscaping, with loose topsoil weighing approximately 2100 lb per cubic yard, compact topsoil weighing approximately 2500 lb per cubic yard, and topsoil mixed with clay in dry condition weighing approximately 2300 lb per cubic yard.
The weight of a cubic yard of topsoil will vary depending on its composition, moisture content, dry and wet factor, and whether it is loose or compact; therefore, 1 cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 2000 pounds or 1 short tonne on average.
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Typically, a 40-pound bag of topsoil contains 0.75 cubic feet of soil; therefore, a 40-pound bag of topsoil yields 0.75 cubic feet.
1 yard of topsoil weighs approximately 2000 pounds or 1.0 short tonne, so 2 yards of topsoil weighs approximately 4000 pounds or 2.0 short tonnes, 3 yards of topsoil weighs approximately 6000 pounds or 3.0 short tonnes, 4 yards of topsoil weighs approximately 8000 pounds or 4.0 short tonnes, 5 yards of topsoil weighs approximately 10000 pounds or 5.0 short tonnes, 10 yards of topsoil weighs approximately 20000 pounds or 10 short tonnes,
How Much Does A Yard Of Dirt Cost?
The price per yard of dirt depends on the type being purchased. While fill dirt costs $8 to $15 per cubic yard, topsoil ranges from $12 to $50 per cubic yard.
How Many Yards of Topsoil Will Fit in a Pickup Truck?
It depends entirely on the size of the bed. The majority of pickup trucks have beds that are approximately 6 feet long and 4 feet wide. Consider your truck’s payload capacity as well.
6 feet by 4 feet by 8 inches in depth equals approximately 0.65 cubic yards. The weight of this topsoil would be between 1,500 and 1,800 pounds, so ensure that your truck can accommodate this.
We utilize a trailer with roughly the same dimensions as a standard truck bed, which is ideal for towing this quantity of dirt. By creating a mound, we were able to fill it with a full cubic yard of debris, and our Ford Expedition can tow more than 2,700 pounds.
How Many Yards are In a Dump Truck?
If you require more topsoil than is available in bags or on a truck or trailer bed, it is preferable to use a dump truck.
We did so when river rock was delivered. A dump truck can typically transport 18 cubic yards of topsoil. This is ideal if you are re-sodding your entire yard or doing extensive planting.
Final Words
Knowing how much topsoil weighs and calculating how much is required for a specific project makes purchasing topsoil easier. With these two considerations in mind, you will not overbuy or underbuy topsoil.
