Soil Calculator
Calculate how much soil or compost you need for raised beds, borders, and planters in litres and bag counts.
0.864 m³
864 litres
18 bags
Bag count uses whole bags and rounds up with Math.ceil.
How the calculator works
This tool converts your bed dimensions into cubic metres, then into litres. It then divides by your selected bag size and rounds up so you can buy whole bags.
Depth defaults to centimetres because that is usually the easiest way to measure raised beds and borders in real gardens.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should soil be in a raised bed?
A depth of around 20 to 30 cm works for many vegetables and herbs. Deeper beds are useful for root crops and better moisture retention.
How many litres are in a cubic metre of soil?
One cubic metre is 1,000 litres. This conversion is used to estimate bag numbers from a measured bed volume.
How many bags of compost do I need?
Divide total litres by your bag size and round up to the next whole bag. Buying one extra bag can help with settling and uneven beds.
Should I allow extra soil for settling?
Yes, allowing around 5% extra is practical because fresh compost and mixes can settle after watering.