Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Filling Multiple Raised Beds Without Guesswork
A single raised bed is a straightforward volume calculation, but a backyard rarely has just one — and soil suppliers price and deliver by the cubic yard, not per bed. Getting the total wrong on a multi-bed layout means either a wasted second delivery trip or soil left over with nowhere to go. This calculator multiplies one bed's volume across however many identical beds you're filling.
The Formula
Volume per Bed (cu ft) = Bed Length × Bed Width × (Bed Depth in inches ÷ 12)
Total Volume = Volume per Bed × Number of Beds
Total Volume (cu yd) = Total Volume (cu ft) ÷ 27
Total Volume = Volume per Bed × Number of Beds
Total Volume (cu yd) = Total Volume (cu ft) ÷ 27
Worked Example
Four identical 4 ft × 8 ft raised beds, each filled 12 inches deep:
| Quantity | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume per bed | 32.0 cu ft |
| Total volume (4 beds) | 128.0 cu ft |
| Total volume | 4.74 cu yd |
Standard Raised Bed Depths
- 6–8 in — adequate for shallow-rooted crops like lettuce, herbs, and most greens.
- 10–12 in — the common general-purpose depth, sufficient for tomatoes, peppers, and most vegetables.
- 12–18 in — recommended for deep-rooted crops like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, or where drainage is poor beneath the bed.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the number of beds (defaults to 1 if left blank).
- Enter the length of one bed in feet.
- Enter the width of one bed in feet.
- Enter the fill depth in inches.
- Optionally enter your bag size in cubic feet to see a bag count.
- Select Calculate to get the total volume across all beds.
Related Calculations
Building a single bed instead? Use the Garden Soil Calculator. Once beds are filled, plan plant counts with the Plant Spacing Calculator.