How many bags of topsoil in a cubic yard? (40 lb, 1 and 2 cu ft bags)
36 bags of 40 lb topsoil make a cubic yard, because the bag holds about 0.75 cubic feet and a yard is 27: 27 bags of 1 cubic foot, 18 of 1.5 and 14 of 2 cubic feet. At $4 a bag that yard costs $144 and weighs 1,440 lb in the car, against $30 plus a $100 delivery in bulk; bags win only below 0.9 cubic yards. The tables give bags per yard for every size and the cost of 1/4 to 10 yards both ways.
Bags per cubic yard by bag size
27 cubic feet in a yard, divided by the bag, rounded up. Check the volume on the bag: topsoil, garden soil and compost all come in these sizes and the weight printed on the front changes with how wet the batch was.
| Bag | Bags per yard | Bags per 10 yards |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft bag (40 lb topsoil) | 36 | 360 |
| 1 cu ft bag | 27 | 270 |
| 1.5 cu ft bag | 18 | 180 |
| 2 cu ft bag | 14 | 135 |
| Bag | Bags per m³ | Bags per 5 m³ |
|---|---|---|
| 25 L bag | 40 | 200 |
| 40 L bag | 25 | 125 |
| 50 L bag | 20 | 100 |
Bags against bulk, 1/4 to 10 yards
40 lb bags at $4 each against bulk topsoil at $30 a yard with a $100 delivery per 10-yard load; change the prices in the topsoil calculator and it tells you the break-even for your own numbers.
| Yards | Bags | Bag weight | In bags | Bulk, delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 9 | 360 lb | $36 | $108 |
| 0.5 | 18 | 720 lb | $72 | $115 |
| 1 | 36 | 1,440 lb | $144 | $130 |
| 2 | 72 | 2,880 lb | $288 | $160 |
| 3 | 108 | 4,320 lb | $432 | $190 |
| 5 | 180 | 7,200 lb | $720 | $250 |
| 10 | 360 | 14,400 lb | $1,440 | $400 |
The line crosses at 0.88 yards: below it the delivery fee makes bulk dearer, above it every yard in bags costs $144 against $30. A half-yard scoop you collect yourself ($10 to $30 at the yard, HomeGuide 2026) fills the gap for small beds.
Before you buy bags
- Read the volume, not the weight: a "40 lb" bag can be 0.75 or 1 cubic foot depending on the brand, and the count changes by a third.
- Bagged topsoil is dry and light; bulk topsoil is moist and settles about 15% once watered, which is the allowance the topsoil guide builds into its tables.
- Over about 0.9 yards, price a delivery first; the dirt cost guide has the 2026 bulk prices per yard and per truckload.
Frequently asked questions
- How many 40 lb bags of topsoil in a cubic yard?
- 36: the 40 lb bag is about 0.75 cubic feet, and 27 ÷ 0.75 = 36. Bags are sold by volume, not weight, and the 40 lb is nominal: dry bagged soil at 40 lb per 0.75 cubic feet is about 53 lb per cubic foot, lighter than bulk topsoil off a truck at about 75.
- How many bags of topsoil for half a yard?
- 18 bags of 40 lb (13.5 cubic feet), 720 lb to carry, about $72 at $4 a bag. A half-yard scoop from the yard is $10 to $30 if you collect it, which is why the scoop exists.
- How many bags of topsoil do I need for 100 square feet?
- At 2 in deep, 100 square feet is 19.2 cubic feet with 15% for settling, 26 bags of 40 lb; at 4 in, 52 bags. The topsoil guide has 100 to 2,000 square feet at 2, 4 and 6 in.
- Is it cheaper to buy topsoil by the bag or by the yard?
- By the yard past 0.9 cubic yards at the calculator's prices: a yard in 40 lb bags is $144, delivered bulk $130 including the $100 trip, and every extra yard adds $30 in bulk against $144 in bags. HomeGuide's 2026 range is $2 to $6 a bag, $35 to $120 a yard in bags, against $10 to $50 bulk.
- How many bags of topsoil fit in a car or a pickup?
- Weight, not space, is the limit: 36 bags for a yard is 1,440 lb, more than a half-ton pickup should carry, and several trips in a car. The bulk equivalent is one delivery.
- How many bags in a cubic metre?
- 25 bags of 40 L, 20 of 50 L, 40 of 25 L: a cubic metre is 1,000 litres. A bulk bag (a "dumpy" bag) is usually 0.7 to 0.9 m³, so it replaces about 20 bags of 40 L.
More guides
- How much topsoil do I need? Bags and cubic yards by area
Cubic yards, tons and bags of topsoil for 100 to 2,000 sq ft at 2, 4 and 6 inches deep, the metric version in cubic metres and 40 L bags, and when to buy in bulk.
- How much fill dirt do I need? (yards, tons and truckloads by area)
Cubic yards of fill dirt for 100 to 5,000 sq ft at 3 to 12 in with 20% for compaction, the tons and 10-yard truckloads that is, filling a low spot, and metric.
- How much is a yard of dirt? Fill dirt and topsoil cost (2026)
Fill dirt 5 to 25 and topsoil 10 to 50 per cubic yard delivered, US 2026 (HomeGuide): truckloads, delivery fees, bags, and what 1 to 30 yards cost for a lawn or low spot.
- How much does a cinder block garage cost? (blocks, mortar, grout and slab for 1, 2 and 3 car)
Blocks, mortar and grout for 1 to 3 car block garages, 12x20 to 36x24 ft, 8 ft walls, doors and windows taken off, plus the 4 in slab, at 2026 prices.
Last updated 2026-09-15. Figures are planning estimates from typical product data: check the yield, size or coverage printed on what you buy and round up.