Calculate soil for your raised beds
Total Soil Needed
32
cubic feet (1.19 cu yd)
1 cu ft Bags
32
2 cu ft Bags
16
Inputs
Result
Volume = 8 x 4 x (12/12) = 32.0 cu ft = 1.19 cu yd. Basic mix: topsoil = 32 x 0.6 = 19.2, compost = 32 x 0.3 = 9.6, amendments = 32 x 0.1 = 3.2 cu ft.
Inputs
Result
Volume = 4 x 4 x (10/12) = 13.3 cu ft = 0.49 cu yd. Mel's Mix: compost = 13.3 / 3 = 4.4, vermiculite = 13.3 / 3 = 4.4 cu ft. (Peat moss for the third portion.)
Calculate length × width × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet. A 4×8 foot bed that's 12 inches deep needs 32 cubic feet, or about 1.2 cubic yards of soil.
A good basic mix is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% amendments (perlite/vermiculite). For square foot gardening, use equal parts compost, peat moss, and vermiculite.
Most vegetables need 8-12 inches of soil. Root vegetables like carrots need 12+ inches. For most gardens, 10-12 inches provides good growing depth.
You can line the bottom with cardboard to suppress weeds, or hardware cloth to prevent burrowing pests. Avoid plastic as it prevents drainage.
Plan your outdoor projects
Last Updated: Feb 12, 2026
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