Topsoil costs $12–$55 per cubic yard delivered in 2026. Unscreened, bulk fill dirt sits at the bottom of that range; premium screened topsoil blended with compost sits at the top. Most homeowners doing a lawn or garden bed land in the $20–$40 per yard band.
Topsoil is where the ton-vs-yard confusion that trips up stone buyers gets worse, not better — soil density swings with moisture content far more than stone does, so the same pile can weigh noticeably more after a rainy week than after a dry one. Buying by the yard sidesteps that problem; buying by the ton means the price you pay can shift with the weather.
Below is pricing by grade, why yard pricing usually beats ton pricing for soil specifically, and the depth math for sizing a lawn or bed order. To convert your project area into cubic yards, use the topsoil calculator.
Topsoil Cost Per Yard and Per Ton
| Grade | Price per yard (delivered) | Price per ton (equivalent) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unscreened fill dirt | $12–$20 | $11–$18 | Grading, filling low spots, under sod |
| Standard screened topsoil | $20–$35 | $18–$32 | Lawns, general garden beds |
| Premium topsoil / compost blend | $35–$55 | $32–$50 | Vegetable gardens, raised beds |
| Bagged topsoil (0.75 cu ft bag) | $60–$110 per yd³ equivalent | — | Small container or spot jobs only |
Bagged topsoil looks cheap per bag but works out to two to three times bulk price once you count how many bags fill a yard — the same crossover logic that applies to bagged stone. Anything over a few dozen square feet is cheaper delivered in bulk; see the math in our bulk buying guide.
Screened vs Unscreened Topsoil
Unscreened topsoil
Dug straight from a site or stockpile without processing. It still contains rocks, roots, and clumps of clay, which makes it unsuitable for seeding directly but perfectly fine as fill under a lawn, in a low spot, or as the base layer of a raised bed you will cap with better soil. It is the cheapest option because no screening labor goes into it.
Screened topsoil
Passed through a mesh screen that removes rocks, roots, and debris above about 3/4 inch, leaving a finer, plantable soil. This is what you want as the top layer for seeding, sod, or any bed where roots need to establish without fighting rubble. The screening pass adds $8–$15 per yard over unscreened but is worth it anywhere plants actually need to grow.
A common and cost-effective approach: unscreened fill for the bulk of the depth, topped with 2–3 inches of screened topsoil where seed or sod actually meets the soil.
Why Yard Pricing Beats Ton Pricing for Soil
Topsoil weighs about 1.1 tons per cubic yard dry, but that number moves — wet soil can weigh 20–40% more than the same soil dry, because it is literally carrying extra water weight. Buy the same volume of soil after a week of rain and you may pay more per ton than you would have the week before, even though you are getting an identical yard of dirt.
Crushed stone does not have this problem to nearly the same degree, since it holds far less moisture. For soil specifically, ask for pricing per cubic yard rather than per ton whenever you have the choice — you know exactly what volume you are getting regardless of recent weather. If a supplier only quotes by the ton, ask what moisture content or density they are using to convert, and sanity-check it with the cubic yards to tons calculator.
Cost-saving tip: If you need both fill and topsoil, order unscreened fill dirt for the bulk depth and only pay the screened premium for the top 2–3 inches. On a typical lawn project this can cut the soil bill by 25–35% with no visible difference once grass is established.
Lawn Depth Math: How Much You Actually Need
One cubic yard covers 324 ÷ depth-in-inches square feet — the same formula used for stone. Depth needs depend on the job:
- Overseeding / topdressing an existing lawn: 0.25–0.5 in. — about 650–1,300 sq ft per yard
- New lawn from seed or sod: 4–6 in. — about 54–81 sq ft per yard
- Raised garden bed: 8–12 in. — about 27–41 sq ft per yard
- Filling a low spot or grading: varies by depth needed; measure the actual low area
The jump between topdressing and a brand-new lawn is enormous — 12x the depth means roughly 12x the material — so be precise about which job you are actually pricing before you call for a quote.
The same yard of soil can be a $15 order or a $50 order depending only on how wet it was when it left the yard.
Worked Example: 2,000 sq ft New Lawn
A 2,000 sq ft area getting a fresh lawn, built with 2 inches of unscreened fill topped by 2 inches of screened topsoil (4 in. total):
- 2,000 sq ft at 4 in. total = 24.7 yd³, split roughly 12.3 yd³ each layer
- Unscreened fill, 12.3 yd³ at $12–$20: $148–$246
- Screened topsoil, 12.3 yd³ at $20–$35: $246–$431
- Delivery, likely 2 loads at this volume: $100–$300
- Total: roughly $494–$977
Skip the fill layer and use screened topsoil for the full 4 inches, and the material cost rises to $494–$862 for soil alone — the two-layer approach saves real money on a project this size without affecting how the finished lawn performs.
Bulk vs Bagged: Where the Crossover Point Is
Bagged topsoil (0.75 cu ft bags at most home centers) is priced for convenience, not value. The crossover — the project size where bulk delivery starts beating a bag-buying trip — comes sooner than most people expect:
| Volume needed | Bagged cost (~$4–$6/bag) | Bulk delivered cost | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 yd³ (9 bags) | $36–$54 | $50–$150 (delivery fee alone often exceeds this) | Bagged |
| 0.5 yd³ (18 bags) | $72–$108 | $56–$168 (soil + delivery) | Roughly even — depends on local delivery fee |
| 1 yd³ (36 bags) | $144–$216 | $70–$185 (soil + delivery) | Bulk, clearly |
| 3 yd³ (108 bags) | $432–$648 | $110–$255 (soil + delivery) | Bulk, by a wide margin |
The crossover sits around half a cubic yard — roughly enough to fill two or three standard raised garden beds. Below that, hauling home a trunkload of bags can beat paying a $50–$150 delivery fee for a tiny load. Above it, bulk wins even after the delivery fee, and the gap widens fast as volume grows.
Worked Example: 10 × 8 ft Raised Garden Bed
A deep raised bed needs far more soil per square foot than a lawn, since the full depth has to be premium growing medium rather than a thin topdressing layer. For an 80 sq ft bed (10 × 8 ft) filled 10 inches deep with a premium topsoil/compost blend:
- Volume: 80 sq ft ÷ (324 ÷ 10 in.) = 80 ÷ 32.4 = 2.47 yd³, call it 2.5 yd³
- Soil cost: 2.5 yd³ at $35–$55/yd³ premium blend: $88–$138
- Delivery: a load this size is well within a single trip: $50–$150
- Total: roughly $138–$288, or about $1.75–$3.60 per square foot of growing space
Compare that to buying premium bagged soil for the same bed: 2.5 yd³ is about 90 bags at $6–$10 each for a compost-blend product, or $540–$900 — three to four times the bulk delivered price. For any bed over a couple dozen square feet, a single bulk delivery pays for itself immediately, even if some soil is left over for next season’s beds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if topsoil is good quality before it’s delivered?
Ask the supplier what the soil is screened to (under 3/4 inch is standard for planting), whether it is tested for pH and organic content, and where it was sourced from. Reputable suppliers can answer all three without hesitation. A soil that smells sour or swampy, rather than earthy, often indicates poor drainage or anaerobic decomposition and is worth avoiding for planting beds.
Is there a minimum order for bulk topsoil delivery?
Most suppliers set a practical minimum around 2–3 cubic yards, since sending a truck for less rarely covers the driver’s time. Below that, either combine your order with a neighbor, use bagged soil, or ask if the yard offers small-load pickup where you bring a trailer instead of paying for delivery.
Bottom Line
Expect $12–$55 per cubic yard delivered depending on grade, and buy by the yard rather than the ton whenever possible to avoid paying for water weight. Use unscreened fill for bulk depth and screened topsoil only where roots meet the surface. Get exact yardage for your lawn or bed with the topsoil calculator, and if you are also regrading a driveway or path on the same property, see our gravel delivery guide for combining loads and truck access tips.
