Raised beds · 5 min read
How to Measure Raised-Bed Soil Volume Before You Buy
Measure the space you actually need to fill, subtract existing soil, and convert the result into bags or a bulk order.
Read the guideThe garden workbench
Raised-bed soil calculator
Inside dimensions to soil volume, bulk quantity and whole bags.
Measurement system
Bed shape
Enter bag volume, not weight. The starting dimensions are examples, not a recommended bed or mulch depth.
How this is calculated
Area × added depth × number of beds. Added depth is the target minus existing material, never below zero. Circle area is π × radius². One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet; one cubic foot is 28.316846592 liters. Bag counts round up to a whole bag.
Use inside measurements. Sloping bottoms, tapered walls, roots and existing material can change the actual capacity. This calculator does not assess structural loads or choose your soil recipe.
Put your plan into practice
Use these guides to check the growing decisions behind your inputs.
Raised beds · 4 min read
How deep should a raised garden bed be?
Choose raised-bed depth by checking the soil beneath it, the crops you want to grow, and your working height. Includes a soil-volume example.
Read the guideRaised beds · 6 min read
Fill a Deep Raised Bed Safely: Structure, Soil Sources, and the Root Zone
Plan a deep raised-bed fill without treating unknown debris, arbitrary layers, or cheap volume as substitutes for a suitable root zone and sound installation.
Read the guide