A 3×6 ft raised bed 18 in deep holds 27 cu ft of soil (1 cu yd). With 10% for settling, buy 29.7 cu ft — 20 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 30 of 1 cu ft or 15 of 2 cu ft.
| Bag | Bags | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 40 | ≈ $142 |
| 1 cu ft | 30 | ≈ $142 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 20 | ≈ $142 |
| 2 cu ft | 15 | ≈ $142 |
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).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.7 | 30 | 20 | 15 | 1.1 |
| 2 | 59.4 | 60 | 40 | 30 | 2.2 |
| 3 | 89.1 | 90 | 60 | 45 | 3.3 |
| 4 | 118.8 | 119 | 80 | 60 | 4.4 |
3 × 6 = 18 sq ft of bed. At 18 in (1.5 ft) deep that is 27 cu ft. Divide by the bag size — 29.7 ÷ 1.5 = 19.8, rounded up to 20 bags — or by 27 for cubic yards.
Measure inside the frame: three 2×6 boards (5½ in each) make a wall about 16.5 in tall, so an "18 in" bed usually holds 16.5 in of soil — 27.2 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.