Build the fill list

Raised bed soil calculator

Turn bed dimensions into cubic feet, cubic yards, liters, and a realistic bag count—with settling reserve included.

Live worksheet

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Each field explains what to measure, where to find it, and how to read the result. Change any value to update the plan instantly.

Inside lengthftThe usable long edge inside the bed walls. Measure soil area, not the outside frame.Example: A standard raised bed is often 8 ft long.Inside widthftThe usable short edge inside the bed walls.Example: Measure 4 ft from inner wall to inner wall.Fill depthinThe vertical depth of soil you actually need to add, not the full height of the bed wall.Example: A half-full 24 in bed needs 12 in of fill.Planning reserve%A small extra allowance for settling, spillage, and imperfect measurements. It is added after the base volume.Example: 10% turns 10 bags into an 11-bag plan.Bag sizecu ftThe volume printed on one bag—not its weight. Enter the exact size sold to you.Example: Common US labels include 1.5 cu ft and 2 cu ft.

Planned fill volume

1.3cubic yards

Cubic feet35.2

Liters997

Whole bags24

Reserve covers ordinary settling and small measuring differences. Mix choice still depends on your site and crops.

Sources & further reading

Raised bed gardensUniversity of Minnesota Extension
Raised-bed gardeningUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension

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How much soil does a raised bed actually need?

Sources & further reading