What Is a Cubic Yard of Soil?
Soil, especially topsoil, is a valuable commodity. It is bought and sold by volume rather than by weight. The standard units of volume are the cubic yard and the cubic foot. Builders may refer to a cubic yard as a "yard of soil."
Volume
One cubic yard is the volume contained within a cube with sides 3 feet long. It is equivalent to 27 cubic feet. One scoop of an excavator bucket contains half a cubic yard, so a cubic yard is also known as "two scoops."
- Soil, especially topsoil, is a valuable commodity.
- One scoop of an excavator bucket contains half a cubic yard, so a cubic yard is also known as "two scoops."
Weight
Moisture content, stones and the type of rock from which the soil is made influence the weight of soil. A cubic yard of topsoil weighs an average of 2,700 lbs. -- dry sand weighs the same -- but compact wet sandy soil weighs about 3,200 lbs. per cubic yard, according to data provided by the Department of Ecology in Washington state.
Coverage
Vegetable gardens require a minimum depth of 10 to 12 inches of topsoil. One cubic yard of topsoil is enough to create a vegetable patch measuring 27 to 33 square feet. It is also enough soil to support a lawn measuring 81 square feet.
- Moisture content, stones and the type of rock from which the soil is made influence the weight of soil.
- One cubic yard of topsoil is enough to create a vegetable patch measuring 27 to 33 square feet.
Average Weight Of A Cubic Yard Of Soil
Whether you’re borrowing your neighbor’s truck or plan to hook up a trailer behind your car, it’s important to know the average weight of a cubic yard of soil and how much payload your vehicle can handle. Then all you’ll have to think about is how many yards of soil to buy. Moisture in soil holds it together and is a primary factor in determining the average weight of a cubic yard of soil, no matter what components the soil is made of. For instance, 1 cubic yard of dry soil topsoil weighs about 2,000 pounds, while the same soil can weigh around 3,000 pounds when saturated. To determine how many cubic yards of soil you need for your project, measure the space’s width, length and depth in feet and then multiply them together and divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. For example, your space is 10 feet wide, 20 feet long and 1 foot deep.
References
- Iowa State University, University Extension: Agricultural Measurements and Conversions
- Doug Clack Trucking Co.: Materials Cost
- Department of Ecology State of Washington: Dangerous Waste Annual Report
- National Gardening Association; Soil Common Sense; Charlie Nardozzi
- American Topsoil: Frequently Asked Questions
- Harmony Sand and Gravel: Approximate Weights of Various Construction Material per Cubic Yard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: What on Earth is Soil?
- Colorado State University Extension: Managing Soil Tilth
- Galaxy Gardens: Conversion Charts
- University of Massachusetts: Soil Basics
- Today's Homeowner: Buying and Hauling Materials by the Cubic Yard FAQ
Writer Bio
David Robinson has written professionally since 2000. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Meteorological Society. He has written for the "Telegraph" and "Guardian" newspapers in the U.K., government publications, websites, magazines and school textbooks. He holds an honors Bachelor of Arts in geography and education and a teaching certificate from Durham University, England.
