Raised bed 2.4 × 1.2 m
Input Length 2.4 m, width 1.2 m, depth 0.3 m, 50 L bags, 10% settling.
Result 0.950 m³ ≈ 950 L ≈ 251 US gallons, so 20 bags of 50 L.
Soil Volume Calculator
Home & RenovationTurn bed length, width and depth into cubic metres, litres, US gallons and the number of soil bags to buy.
Your inputs
Result
Soil volume
—
m³
- Litres — L
- US gallons — gal
- Bags to buy —
Change any input and the result updates instantly.
Formula and rules
- Rectangular bed volume = length × width × depth
- Round pot volume = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth
- 1 cubic metre = 1,000 litres = 35.31 cubic feet = 264.2 US gallons
- Bags = total litres ÷ bag size, rounded up
- The settling allowance is applied before bags are counted, so you never come up short
Worked examples
Round pot 50 cm across
Input Diameter 0.5 m, depth 0.4 m, 40 L bags, 10% settling.
Result 0.086 m³ ≈ 86 L ≈ 23 US gallons, so 3 bags of 40 L.
8 × 4 ft bed, 1 ft deep
Input Length 8 ft, width 4 ft, depth 1 ft, 1.5 cu ft bags, 10% settling.
Result 35.2 ft³ with settling ≈ 997 L, so 24 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
FAQ
How deep should a raised bed be?
25–30 cm is enough for lettuce, herbs and most flowers. Root vegetables and tomatoes do better at 40 cm, and 45 cm or more keeps deep-rooted crops from drying out.
How many 50 L bags are in a cubic metre?
Exactly 20 bags of 50 litres, because 1 m³ = 1,000 L. With a 10% settling allowance, plan for 22 bags instead.
Should I order extra soil?
Yes, 5–10% covers settling and spillage on a new bed. Keep one unopened bag for top-ups after the first season, when the soil level drops.
Disclaimer: Results follow the formula shown on this page and are for reference only. Real-world quantities vary with materials, technique and conditions, so allow a margin before ordering.