A cubic yard of topsoil has no fixed weight. The reference chart hosted by Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission lists 2,050 lb loose, 2,565 lb packed and 3,375 lb wet per cubic yard.1 These are reference values, not measured weights for your supplier’s soil or guaranteed upper limits. Ask for the actual material’s weight per yard and verify the loaded weight when hauling.
Reference weights, with their stated conditions
| Chart label | Lb per cu yd | US short tons per cu yd | Lb per cu ft (rounded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil (loose) | 2,050 | 1.0250 | 75.93 |
| Topsoil (packed) | 2,565 | 1.2825 | 95.00 |
| Topsoil (wet) | 3,375 | 1.6875 | 125.00 |
The chart says its posted weights were gathered from EPA and NTEA and carries a 2015 revision note.1 It does not define test moisture, soil composition or packing procedure. We cite the chart itself, not a separately verified EPA or NTEA specification. “Loose,” “packed” and “wet” are its labels; they are not interchangeable descriptions of one measured pile.
The commercial topsoil.com article gives different estimates: dry 1,500–2,200 lb, moist 2,200–2,600 lb and saturated 2,600–3,000 lb per yard.2 These do not form a universal range with the chart above. The article’s 3,000-lb figure must not be treated as a maximum when the other chart lists 3,375 lb for wet topsoil. Neither source establishes your batch’s density.
Convert volume to weight
Weight (lb) = cubic yards × actual lb per cubic yard.
US short tons = pounds / 2,000.
Cubic yards per US short ton = 2,000 / actual lb per cubic yard.
Pounds per cubic foot = lb per cubic yard / 27.
For a rectangular fill space: cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) / 324. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Keep full precision through multiplication; round the displayed result afterward. This page uses US short tons, not metric tonnes or long tons.
Weight chart by volume
Calculated from the reference chart’s three densities, with no order reserve. Rows compare assumptions; they do not predict changing one pile from loose to packed to wet.
| Volume | At 2,050 lb/cu yd | At 2,565 lb/cu yd | At 3,375 lb/cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cu yd | 512.5 lb | 641.2 lb | 843.8 lb |
| 0.5 cu yd | 1,025.0 lb | 1,282.5 lb | 1,687.5 lb |
| 1 cu yd | 2,050.0 lb | 2,565.0 lb | 3,375.0 lb |
| 2 cu yd | 4,100.0 lb | 5,130.0 lb | 6,750.0 lb |
| 3 cu yd | 6,150.0 lb | 7,695.0 lb | 10,125.0 lb |
Three checked examples
1. A 10 × 20-foot bed, 4 inches deep
Net volume = 10 × 20 × 4 / 324 = 2.469135802… cu yd, or 66.666666… cu ft. Using the unrounded volume gives:
| Selected reference density | Weight (rounded) | US short tons (rounded) |
|---|---|---|
| 2,050 lb/cu yd | 5,061.73 lb | 2.531 |
| 2,565 lb/cu yd | 6,333.33 lb | 3.167 |
| 3,375 lb/cu yd | 8,333.33 lb | 4.167 |
The 3,375-lb reference gives 8,333.33 lb, not 8,336 lb from multiplying an early-rounded 2.47 yards. None of these density assumptions certifies a vehicle load. If loose order volume differs from the intended installed volume, obtain that conversion separately before calculating order weight.
2. A 4 × 8-foot bed at 12 inches
Net volume = 32 cu ft = 32 / 27 cu yd. If the supplier specifically quotes 2,400 lb per loose cubic yard for the selected material, estimated material weight = 32 / 27 × 2,400 = 2,844.44 lb, or 1.422 short tons. Multiplying the rounded 1.19 yards instead would give 2,856 lb. The supplier quote here is hypothetical, not a density for every raised-bed mix.
3. Convert a quoted short ton to volume
With a selected density of 2,565 lb/cu yd, one 2,000-lb short ton corresponds to 2,000 / 2,565 = 0.779727 cu yd. At 2,050 lb/cu yd it is 0.975610 cu yd instead. A ton is mass, a yard is volume; neither conversion is universal.
Hauling: usable payload is not a truck-class name
Ford’s load-limit guidance defines payload as occupants plus cargo and directs owners to the vehicle’s actual tire/loading label. Added equipment reduces the listed payload; vehicle and axle ratings must also be respected.3 Use the manual and labels for the actual vehicle. A “half-ton” badge, an empty-looking bed or a supplier’s usual scoop does not certify capacity.
- Read the exact occupant/cargo limit and subtract occupants, other cargo, added equipment and any transferred trailer load as applicable.
- Check GVWR, axle ratings, tire limits and load distribution. Do not assume passing one total-weight calculation passes every limit.
- Get the actual soil weight, preferably a weighed load. A reference wet density is not a guaranteed maximum.
- Account for the container/pallet or other hauling materials. Soil-only pounds are not gross cargo pounds.
- If weight cannot be verified or ratings would be exceeded, arrange suitable delivery rather than treating a generic half-yard recommendation as safe.
Moisture, packing and order allowances
Moisture, composition and packing affect how much material mass occupies a yard. Ask whether the quote is for loose delivered volume, compacted volume, dry mass or as-delivered mass. Use a density matching that basis. Do not combine dry particle/bulk-density data with an unrelated wet loose order.
A settling adjustment changes order quantity; it is not the same input as weight per yard. There is no fixed 5–10% allowance established here for all soils. Keep net geometry, supplier volume conversion, chosen reserve, final sales increment and resulting order weight separate.
FAQ
Does one yard of topsoil equal one ton?
Only at exactly 2,000 lb per cubic yard when “ton” means US short ton. The listed chart values produce 1.025, 1.2825 and 1.6875 short tons per yard.
Is half a yard safe in my pickup?
Not automatically. Half a yard at the chart’s wet reference weighs 1,687.5 lb before occupants, equipment or containers. Check the actual load and vehicle limits; the reference value is not a safe-load certification.
Can I convert 40-lb bags to yards?
Use the product’s stated volume or yield. Bag weight alone does not establish cubic feet. Different soil products and moisture conditions can have different yields.
Is topsoil always lighter than gravel?
No. The reference chart lists loose topsoil at 2,050 lb/cu yd and dry 3/4-inch gravel at 2,565, but wet topsoil at 3,375. Compare the specific materials on matching moisture/volume bases, not just their names.1
Can this estimate size a deck or rooftop planter?
No. Soil weight alone excludes the planter, water, plants and other loads, and a reference density is not a structural design load. Get a qualified structural review for the actual installation.
Related guides
Topsoil volume calculator | Topsoil bag conversions | Raised-bed quantities | Pickup volume versus payload
Sources
- Material Weight: Pounds per Cubic Yard, hosted by TRORC (reference loose/packed/wet topsoil and gravel figures; chart states EPA/NTEA origin)
- topsoil.com: Cubic Yard of Topsoil Weight (commercial article’s moisture estimates differ from the reference chart; not a batch measurement)
- Ford Owner’s Manual: Load Limit (payload, occupants, added equipment, vehicle and axle ratings; consult the actual vehicle manual)