A 4×8 ft raised bed 18 in deep holds 48 cu ft of soil (1.78 cu yd). With 10% for settling, buy 52.8 cu ft — 36 bags of 1.5 cu ft, 53 of 1 cu ft or 27 of 2 cu ft.
| Bag | Bags | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 71 | ≈ $253 |
| 1 cu ft | 53 | ≈ $251 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 36 | ≈ $256 |
| 2 cu ft | 27 | ≈ $256 |
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 | 52.8 | 53 | 36 | 27 | 1.96 |
| 2 | 105.6 | 106 | 71 | 53 | 3.91 |
| 3 | 158.4 | 159 | 106 | 80 | 5.87 |
| 4 | 211.2 | 212 | 141 | 106 | 7.82 |
4 × 8 = 32 sq ft of bed. At 18 in (1.5 ft) deep that is 48 cu ft. Divide by the bag size — 52.8 ÷ 1.5 = 35.2, rounded up to 36 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 — 48.4 cu ft with settling, 3 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.