How much soil for a 2×8 raised bed, 12 inches deep?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 2×8 ft raised bed 12 in deep holds 16 cu ft of soil (0.59 cu yd). With 10% for settling, buy 17.6 cu ft — 12 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 18 of 1 cu ft or 9 of 2 cu ft.

Volume: 2 ft × 8 ft × 1 ft = 16 cu ft; × 1.10 for settling = 17.6 cu ft.
Mix it 50/50 yourself: 9 × 1 cu ft bags of topsoil plus 6 × 1.5 cu ft bags of compost — about $85.35 at Mulch Pros' October 2026 bag prices.
Or bulk: 0.65 cu yd of premixed soil–compost blend is about $106 delivered ($48/yd + $75) — more than bags at this size, because the delivery fee dominates.
Filled, the bed holds roughly 1,043 lb of soil (estimate; wet soil weighs more).
A 2 ft wide bed fits along a fence or a walk where you can only reach from one side.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you filling?

Job

Bed size (inside the frame)

Length

= 2' · 0.61 m

Width

= 8' · 2.44 m

Soil depth

Measure inside the boards: a frame of 2×12s stands about 11¼ in, not 12.

Exact depth

How many beds this size?

Material & bags

Material

Ready-to-plant mix for raised beds and new gardens.

Bag size

How you'll buy it

You need

12× 1.5 cu ft bags

0.65 cu yd (17.6 cu ft) of soil–compost blend · incl. 10% for settling

Cubic yards: 0.65cu yd0.59 before settling
Cubic feet: 17.6cu ft
Weight: ≈ 0.5 tonsestimate — varies with moisture
Soil per bed: 17.6cu ft12 × 1.5 cu ft bags

Every bag size

Bags needed by bag size
Bag	Bags	Est. cost
0.75 cu ft	24	≈ $85.44
1 cu ft	18	≈ $85.32
1.5 cu ft	12	≈ $85.32
2 cu ft	9	≈ $85.32

Mix it yourself

A 50/50 blend is 8.8 cu ft of topsoil plus 8.8 cu ft of compost — 9 × 1 cu ft bags of topsoil and 6 × 1.5 cu ft bags of compost, about $85.35. Premixed bulk blend runs $48–$74.95/yd³ (Mulch Pros 50/50 blend to Roseville garden blends).

Bags or bulk?

12 × 1.5 cu ft bags

$85.32

Cheaper ✓ · materials, before tax

0.65 cu yd delivered

$106

incl. 1 delivery fee

Bulk becomes cheaper from about 0.9 cu yd (17 bags of 1.5 cu ft). Bagged soil–compost blend works out to $128 per cubic yard. Your plan: $85.32.

Getting it home

Total weight: 0.5 tons · 1,043 lb
Dump truck: 1 single-axle load
Your pickup: 2 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 96% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Spread it over loosened ground

Roseville Rock Supply recommends 4–6 in of topsoil under new lawn. Loosen the subsoil first so the layers knit together, and order screened topsoil — unscreened material carries rocks and roots.

Shopping list

9 bags Topsoil, 1 cu ft bags (half of a 50/50 mix)$25.65
6 bags Compost, 1.5 cu ft bags (half of a 50/50 mix)$59.70

Estimated total$85.35

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

Topsoil, 1 cu ft bags
9 bags × $
$25.65
Compost, 1.5 cu ft bags
6 bags × $
$59.70

Materials total$85.35

Bag prices from the Mulch Pros (GA) list of Oct 22, 2026; bulk prices from Mulch Pros and Roseville Rock Supply. Tap any price to use your store's.

Did this answer your question?

Compare

2×8 ft beds, 12 in deep, with 10% for settling

Beds	Cu ft	1 cu ft bags	1.5 cu ft bags	2 cu ft bags	Bulk cu yd
1	17.6	18	12	9	0.65
2	35.2	36	24	18	1.3
3	52.8	53	36	27	1.96
4	70.4	71	47	36	2.61

How this was worked out

2 × 8 = 16 sq ft of bed. At 12 in (1 ft) deep that is 16 cu ft. Divide by the bag size — 17.6 ÷ 1.5 = 11.7, rounded up to 12 bags — or by 27 for cubic yards.

Measure inside the frame: two 2×6 boards (5½ in each) or one 2×12 (11¼ in) make a wall about 11 in tall, so a "12 in" bed usually holds 11 in of soil — 16.1 cu ft with settling, 1 fewer 1.5 cu ft bag than the nominal height suggests.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main topsoil & raised bed soil calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Roseville Rock Supply — calculator & reference table — DG ~3,000 lb/yd³, mulch 400–800 lb, topsoil 2,000–2,200 lb; order 5–10% extra; base materials up to 15% for compaction · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — aggregates, sands, topsoil & delivery rates — DG $106.95/yd³, concrete sand $68.95/yd³, screened topsoil $51.95/yd³; free delivery from 4 yd within 14 mi · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros price list (October 22, 2026) — bag and bulk prices for mulch, soil, compost, #57, crush & run, pea gravel, sand; delivery $7/mi ($60 min) · checked October 2026
Mississippi State University Extension P2301 — Mulches for the Landscape — depths by mulch type (bark 2–3 in, shredded wood 2–4, pine straw 6–8, compost 2–3, rubber 2–4); rake off after 3 years · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros — material weight & coverage (scale weights) — 2,600–2,900 lb per yd³ of stone; 1 yd³ covers 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 at 3 in; pine straw bale ≈ 40 sq ft; single-axle ≈ 5 t, tandem up to 18 t · checked October 2026
LawnStarter — mulch prices (updated Oct 5, 2026) — bulk $30–$135 per yd³; delivery $70–$140; 2 cu ft bags $3.25–$6.50 · checked October 2026

Short answer

A 2×8 ft raised bed 12 in deep holds 16 cu ft of soil (0.59 cu yd). With 10% for settling, buy 17.6 cu ft — 12 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 18 of 1 cu ft or 9 of 2 cu ft.

Volume: 2 ft × 8 ft × 1 ft = 16 cu ft; × 1.10 for settling = 17.6 cu ft.

Mix it 50/50 yourself: 9 × 1 cu ft bags of topsoil plus 6 × 1.5 cu ft bags of compost — about $85.35 at Mulch Pros' October 2026 bag prices.

Or bulk: 0.65 cu yd of premixed soil–compost blend is about $106 delivered ($48/yd + $75) — more than bags at this size, because the delivery fee dominates.

Filled, the bed holds roughly 1,043 lb of soil (estimate; wet soil weighs more).

A 2 ft wide bed fits along a fence or a walk where you can only reach from one side.

Adjust it to your exact job

What are you filling?

Job

Bed size (inside the frame)

Length

= 2' · 0.61 m

Width

= 8' · 2.44 m

Soil depth

Measure inside the boards: a frame of 2×12s stands about 11¼ in, not 12.

Exact depth

How many beds this size?

Material & bags

Material

Ready-to-plant mix for raised beds and new gardens.

Bag size

How you'll buy it

You need

12× 1.5 cu ft bags

0.65 cu yd (17.6 cu ft) of soil–compost blend · incl. 10% for settling

Cubic yards: 0.65cu yd0.59 before settling
Cubic feet: 17.6cu ft
Weight: ≈ 0.5 tonsestimate — varies with moisture
Soil per bed: 17.6cu ft12 × 1.5 cu ft bags

Every bag size

Bags needed by bag size
Bag	Bags	Est. cost
0.75 cu ft	24	≈ $85.44
1 cu ft	18	≈ $85.32
1.5 cu ft	12	≈ $85.32
2 cu ft	9	≈ $85.32

Mix it yourself

Bags or bulk?

12 × 1.5 cu ft bags

$85.32

Cheaper ✓ · materials, before tax

0.65 cu yd delivered

$106

incl. 1 delivery fee

Bulk becomes cheaper from about 0.9 cu yd (17 bags of 1.5 cu ft). Bagged soil–compost blend works out to $128 per cubic yard. Your plan: $85.32.

Getting it home

Total weight: 0.5 tons · 1,043 lb
Dump truck: 1 single-axle load
Your pickup: 2 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 96% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Spread it over loosened ground

Roseville Rock Supply recommends 4–6 in of topsoil under new lawn. Loosen the subsoil first so the layers knit together, and order screened topsoil — unscreened material carries rocks and roots.

Shopping list

9 bags Topsoil, 1 cu ft bags (half of a 50/50 mix)$25.65
6 bags Compost, 1.5 cu ft bags (half of a 50/50 mix)$59.70

Estimated total$85.35

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

Topsoil, 1 cu ft bags
9 bags × $
$25.65
Compost, 1.5 cu ft bags
6 bags × $
$59.70

Materials total$85.35

Bag prices from the Mulch Pros (GA) list of Oct 22, 2026; bulk prices from Mulch Pros and Roseville Rock Supply. Tap any price to use your store's.

Beds

Cu ft

1 cu ft bags

1.5 cu ft bags

2 cu ft bags

Bulk cu yd

17.6

0.65

35.2

1.3

52.8

1.96

70.4

2.61

How this was worked out

2 × 8 = 16 sq ft of bed. At 12 in (1 ft) deep that is 16 cu ft. Divide by the bag size — 17.6 ÷ 1.5 = 11.7, rounded up to 12 bags — or by 27 for cubic yards.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main topsoil & raised bed soil calculator page.