How Much Topsoil Do I Need?

How Much Topsoil Do I Need?

Whether you’re laying a new lawn, building raised beds, improving garden borders, or tackling a landscaping project, one of the most common questions is:

“How much topsoil do I need?”

Ordering the correct amount of topsoil helps avoid unnecessary costs and ensures your project runs smoothly.

Typical Topsoil Coverage

As a general guide:

1 tonne of topsoil covers approximately:

10m² at 50mm depth
6.5m² at 75mm depth
5m² at 100mm depth
3.3m² at 150mm depth

Coverage will vary slightly depending on moisture content and compaction.

How To Calculate Topsoil Requirements

Use the following formula:

Length (m) × Width (m) × Depth (m) = Cubic Metres Required

As a guide:

1 tonne of topsoil is approximately 0.6m³

Example 1 – New Lawn

Area:

Length: 10m
Width: 5m
Depth: 100mm (0.1m)

Calculation:

10 × 5 × 0.1 = 5m³

5m³ ÷ 0.6 = 8.3 tonnes

You would require approximately 8-9 tonnes of topsoil.

Example 2 – Garden Border

Area:

Length: 8m
Width: 1m
Depth: 150mm (0.15m)

Calculation:

8 × 1 × 0.15 = 1.2m³

1.2m³ ÷ 0.6 = 2 tonnes

You would require approximately 2 tonnes of topsoil.

Recommended Topsoil Depths

Turfing & New Lawns

100-150mm

Garden Borders

150-300mm

Raised Beds

200-450mm

Vegetable Gardens

200-300mm

General Landscaping

100-150mm

Which Topsoil Should I Choose?

Screened Topsoil

Ideal for:

Turfing
General landscaping
Garden borders
Filling low spots

Premium Blended Loam Topsoil

Ideal for:

New lawns
Planting projects
Raised beds
Premium landscaping

Ericaceous Topsoil

Ideal for:

Rhododendrons
Azaleas
Camellias
Heathers
Blueberries

Why Choose Tiny Tipper?

At Tiny Tipper, we supply high-quality topsoil across Sussex and Kent.

We specialise in delivering to locations where larger lorries cannot access, making us the ideal choice for domestic landscaping projects and restricted access sites.

Benefits Of Ordering From Tiny Tipper