2×4 Raised Bed Soil Calculator
How much soil for a 2×4 raised bed? Pick a mix to get the total volume and a per-component shopping list.
A balanced, beginner-friendly mix. Good default for most vegetable beds.
Total soil needed
0.25cu yd
6.7 cu ft · buy ~7.3 cu ft to allow for settling
| Component | Volume | Bags |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 4 cu ft | 3 × 1.5 cu ft |
| Compost | 2 cu ft | 2 × 1 cu ft |
| Aeration (perlite or vermiculite) | 0.7 cu ft | 1 × 2 cu ft |
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How it's calculated
- 1
Enter bed size
Length, width, and fill height in inches, plus how many beds. Heights of 6–12 inches are typical.
- 2
Pick a mix recipe
The default blend is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% aeration. Mel's Mix is equal parts compost, peat/coir, and vermiculite.
- 3
Get a shopping list
We split the total volume by the recipe and show bags of each component, plus a ~10% settle buffer.
Frequently asked questions
How much soil for a 4×8 raised bed?
A 4×8 bed at 10 inches deep holds about 26.7 cubic feet — roughly 1 cubic yard. The calculator breaks that into bags of topsoil, compost, and aeration.
What soil mix is best for raised beds?
A balanced default is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% aeration (perlite or vermiculite). Square-foot gardeners often use Mel's Mix — equal parts compost, peat/coir, and vermiculite.
Can I fill the bottom with something cheaper?
Yes. For deep beds, the bottom 6–12 inches can be coarse fill (logs and branches — hügelkultur — or cheap fill dirt). Only the top ~10–12 inches needs real growing mix.