How much compost do you need?
Compost in cubic feet, cubic yards, bags and wheelbarrow loads for top-dressing lawns or amending garden beds.
Formula shownNo signupShareable linkUpdated October 18, 2026
Before you buy: A cubic yard of compost covers 324 ft² at 1 inch or about 1,300 ft² at a quarter inch.
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Worked examples
| Job | Depth | Compost |
|---|---|---|
| Top-dress 1,000 ft² lawn | 0.25" | 20.8 ft³ (0.77 yd³) |
| Refresh 100 ft² bed | 1" | 8.3 ft³ (0.31 yd³) |
| Amend 200 ft² new bed | 2" | 33.3 ft³ (1.23 yd³) |
| Amend 500 ft² new bed | 3" | 125.0 ft³ (4.63 yd³) |
Formula & assumptions
Volume (ft³) = area × depth ÷ 12; cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27. Common depths: 0.25–0.5" to top-dress a lawn, 1–2" worked into existing beds each year, 2–3" mixed into the top 6–8" of a new bed.
FAQ
How much compost to top-dress a lawn?
About a quarter inch: 21 ft³ (0.77 yd³) per 1,000 ft².
Can I put too much compost on a bed?
Yes. Very heavy annual applications can build up phosphorus. A soil test every few years tells you whether to keep adding.
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