From this site

One project, every trade

Each calculator adds its lines to a single estimate — consolidated BOM, schedule and cash-flow included.

Open My Project →

Screened Topsoil Tons to Cubic Yards Calculator

Convert a screened topsoil tonnage into cubic yards to check capacity, coverage and storage.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax

Approximate volume

8.7 cu yd

High confidence

About 1.15 short tons per cubic yard for screened topsoil; slightly lighter than unscreened because stone has been removed. The inverse of the volume-to-weight figure. Loose material occupies more space than stacked or compacted material.

Conversion factor applied
0.87 cu yd per short tons

Converting a screened topsoil tonnage into volume is the check on whether a delivery will cover the beds to the depth planned. Settlement is the factor most often forgotten: freshly spread topsoil consolidates over the first weeks under its own weight and rain, so a bed filled level on the day sits low by the next season. Spreading slightly proud accounts for that. Screened soil settles somewhat more evenly than unscreened, because there is no stone fraction to bridge and create voids.

Add the equipment this sizes

This result is a specification — 8.696 cu yd — not a quantity. Put the thing it sizes into your project: how many, what you call it, and your supplier’s price.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Inverse of approximately 1.15 short tons per cubic yard
  • 1 short ton = 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is about 10% heavier

Your workspace

Most jobs need more than one number. Add the calculators you need next and they open right here, underneath this one — your figures stay on screen and nothing is lost to a page change.

Frequently asked questions

How much will this tonnage cover?
Convert to volume, divide by the bed area, and that gives loose depth. Then allow for settlement, which is appreciable in the first weeks and is why beds filled flush end up sitting low.
Why does screened soil weigh less?
Because the stone fraction has been removed, and stone is denser than soil. The difference is modest but real, which is why screened and as-dug material convert at slightly different densities.
Can I compact topsoil to save volume?
You should not. Compacted topsoil drains poorly and roots struggle in it. Firm it only enough to remove large air pockets and let natural settlement do the rest.
What does the screening mesh size tell me about the product?
Suppliers screen through a stated mesh — commonly 10 mm for premium lawn dressing, 20 mm for general landscaping. A finer screen means no clod larger than that dimension survives, so 10 mm material rakes to seed-bed tilth straight off the truck, while 20 mm still wants a pass with a landscape rake. The mesh size also nudges the conversion slightly: finer screenings pack marginally closer, so a 10 mm product can run a touch heavier per yard than the same soil screened at 20 mm.