A 4×8 ft raised bed 12 in deep holds 32 cu ft of soil (1.19 cu yd). With 10% for settling, buy 35.2 cu ft — 24 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 36 of 1 cu ft or 18 of 2 cu ft.
| Bag | Bags | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 47 | ≈ $167 |
| 1 cu ft | 36 | ≈ $171 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 24 | ≈ $171 |
| 2 cu ft | 18 | ≈ $171 |
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 | 35.2 | 36 | 24 | 18 | 1.3 |
| 2 | 70.4 | 71 | 47 | 36 | 2.61 |
| 3 | 105.6 | 106 | 71 | 53 | 3.91 |
| 4 | 140.8 | 141 | 94 | 71 | 5.21 |
4 × 8 = 32 sq ft of bed. At 12 in (1 ft) deep that is 32 cu ft. Divide by the bag size — 35.2 ÷ 1.5 = 23.5, rounded up to 24 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 — 32.3 cu ft with settling, 2 fewer 1.5 cu ft bags than the nominal height suggests.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main topsoil & raised bed soil calculator page.