Raised Bed Soil at 24-Inch Depth
A 24-inch deep raised bed is the premium option for serious vegetable gardeners — deep enough for any root system, great for accessible gardening, and highly productive. A 4x8 at 24 inches needs 64 cubic feet (2.37 cubic yards). At this volume, bulk soil delivery is strongly recommended over buying individual bags. Set your depth to 24 inches above for your exact figures.
How to Use This Calculator
Select your bed shape (Rectangle, Square, or Circle), choose your unit of measurement, then enter your dimensions. For rectangular and square beds, enter length, width, and depth. For circular beds, enter the diameter and depth. Click Calculate Soil Needed to see your results instantly in cubic feet, cubic yards, liters, and gallons — plus bag counts for all four standard bag sizes.
Understanding Your Results
Cubic feet is the unit printed on most bagged soil at garden centers. Use this number to count bags. Cubic yards is the unit used by landscape bulk suppliers — divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Liters is the metric equivalent (1 cu ft = 28.32 liters). Gallons is helpful for smaller container calculations (1 cu ft = 7.48 gallons).
Soil Mix Recommendation
The best all-purpose raised bed mix is 60% quality topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% perlite or coarse sand. This blend drains well, retains moisture, and provides the nutrients plants need. Avoid filling raised beds with pure topsoil — it compacts and restricts root growth. Always include at least 25–30% organic matter.