How do you calculate soil volume?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

Calculating soil volume is actually quite simple! All you need is a tape measure and a basic understanding of the formula. Let me break it down for you.

First, measure the length and width of the area you want to calculate the soil volume for. Make sure to measure in feet. For example, let’s say the length is 10 feet and the width is 8 feet.

Next, you’ll need to determine the height or depth of the soil. Measure from the ground level to the desired depth. Let’s say the depth is 2 feet.

Now, it’s time to plug these numbers into the formula: Length x Width x Height = Volume. In our example, it would be 10 feet x 8 feet x 2 feet = 160 cubic feet.

But if you’re like me and prefer working with cubic yards, you’ll need to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, divide the number of cubic feet by 27. In our example, 160 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards.

So, the soil volume for that area would be approximately 5.93 cubic yards.

To give you a better visual, imagine filling up a large box that is 10 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 2 feet deep with soil. The amount of soil needed to fill that box would be around 5.93 cubic yards.

It’s important to note that this formula works for rectangular or square areas. If you’re dealing with irregular shapes, you may need to break them down into smaller sections and calculate the volume for each section separately.

I hope this explanation helps you understand how to calculate soil volume. It’s a handy skill to have when planning gardening or landscaping projects, or even when ordering soil for your yard.