How Much Does Topsoil Weigh?
Standard topsoil used for lawns, gardens, and landscaping beds. Typical moist/delivered weight; dry topsoil can run ~1,800 lbs/cu yd.
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of native soil, screened to remove rocks, roots, and debris, leaving a dark, crumbly blend rich in organic matter. It's the soil most people picture when they think about starting a lawn or garden -- loose enough to work by hand, dark enough to signal fertility, and free of the construction debris that shows up in cheaper fill.
Quality varies a lot by supplier. Some topsoil is straight native soil with the big rocks screened out; better blends are amended with compost or aged organic material to boost nutrient content and improve texture. The better the blend, the more it tends to weigh when moist, since organic matter holds onto water.
What Topsoil Is Used For
- Building raised garden beds
- Establishing new lawns and reseeding bare patches
- Filling in low spots before sodding
- Topdressing existing lawns
- Backfilling around new plantings and trees
- Blending with compost for vegetable gardens
Weight Facts
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,200 lbs
- Weight per cubic yard
- 2,200 lbs
- Weight per cubic foot
- 81 lbs
- Weight per ton (yards)
- 0.91 cu yd
- Category
- Soil & Fill
How Much Topsoil Can Each Truck Carry?
| Truck | Payload | Safe max (cubic yards) | Full bed wt. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lbs | 0.68 | 2,713 lbs ⚠ |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,500 lbs | 0.68 | 2,762 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.64 | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Colorado (3rd Gen) | 1,500 lbs | 0.68 | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (2nd Gen) | 1,400 lbs | 0.64 | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Canyon (3rd Gen) | 1,450 lbs | 0.66 | 3,414 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford Ranger | 1,560 lbs | 0.71 | 3,528 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,160 lbs | 0.53 | 3,267 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tacoma | 1,100 lbs | 0.50 | 2,803 lbs ⚠ |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,200 lbs | 0.55 | 2,893 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-150 | 1,525 lbs | 0.69 | 5,076 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 1,600 lbs | 0.73 | 5,842 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 1,500 lbs | 0.68 | 5,842 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 1500 | 1,240 lbs | 0.56 | 5,011 lbs ⚠ |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,485 lbs | 0.68 | 5,345 lbs ⚠ |
| Nissan Titan | 1,460 lbs | 0.66 | 4,856 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-250 Super Duty | 3,000 lbs | 1.36 | 6,396 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (SRW) | 4,000 lbs | 1.82 | 6,396 lbs ⚠ |
| Ford F-350 Super Duty (DRW) | 5,500 lbs | 2.50 | 6,396 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.45 | 6,804 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD | 3,200 lbs | 1.45 | 6,804 lbs ⚠ |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.59 | 6,804 lbs ⚠ |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD (DRW) | 5,700 lbs | 2.59 | 6,804 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 2500 | 1,950 lbs | 0.89 | 6,087 lbs ⚠ |
| RAM 3500 (DRW) | 6,280 lbs | 2.85 | 6,087 lbs |
⚠ = full bed weight exceeds truck payload. Safe max is by payload rating, not bed volume.
Hauling Topsoil: What to Know
Topsoil delivered fresh typically runs close to 2,200 lbs per cubic yard because it's still holding moisture from the supply yard or a recent rain. Let that same yard dry out completely and it can drop to around 1,800 lbs -- a swing of roughly 400 lbs from moisture alone. That difference matters when estimating how many yards a truck bed or trailer can carry without overloading.
A half-ton pickup with a payload rating of 1,500-1,700 lbs shouldn't haul a full yard of wet topsoil loose in the bed -- that alone can push close to or past the limit before the driver and any tools are added. Spread the load across two trips or use a properly rated trailer, especially right after rain when the pile is at its heaviest.
Buying & Ordering Topsoil
Topsoil is almost always sold and delivered in bulk cubic yards, not bags, once you're covering more than a small patch. Ask the supplier whether it's screened, whether it's blended with compost, and what the parent soil type is (sandy, loamy, or clay-based), since that affects drainage and how much weight it picks up when wet.
Calculate Your Load
“Fill Truck” sets quantity to whichever comes first: payload weight limit or bed volume.
⚠ Overloaded — 700 lbs over capacity
This load exceeds the published payload rating and may damage the truck's suspension, frame, tires, and brakes. Reduce quantity or use a higher-rated truck.
Standard AWD EcoBoost payload. Tremor drops to ~1,140 lbs; the 2025+ Lobo off-road trim is lower still (~1,045 lbs). Check door-jamb sticker.
2 trips needed with your Ford Maverick
Could a rental truck do this in fewer trips?
Topsoil — Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
- About 2,200 lbs when moist as delivered, dropping to roughly 1,800 lbs once fully dried out. Plan around the wet weight since that's the condition it usually arrives in.
- Why does topsoil weigh less after it's been sitting for a while?
- It loses moisture. Freshly delivered topsoil holds water from rain or the source pile; as it dries in a bed or storage pile, that water evaporates and the weight drops.
- Can I order topsoil in bags instead of bulk?
- Bagged topsoil exists at garden centers but is meant for small jobs like potting or patching a few square feet. Anything bed- or lawn-sized is far more cost-effective bought by the cubic yard.
- How much does Topsoil weigh per cubic yard?
- Topsoil weighs approximately 2,200 lbs per cubic yard. Standard topsoil used for lawns, gardens, and landscaping beds. Typical moist/delivered weight; dry topsoil can run ~1,800 lbs/cu yd.
- How much Topsoil can a half-ton truck carry?
- A typical half-ton truck with a 1,500 lb payload can safely carry about 0.68 cubic yards of Topsoil.
- How many cubic yards per ton of Topsoil?
- Topsoil weighs 2,200 lbs per cubic yard, so one ton (2,000 lbs) equals approximately 0.91 cubic yards.
Related Material Weights
- Fill dirt — 2,200 lbs/yd³
- Clay — 2,800 lbs/yd³
- Sandy loam — 2,250 lbs/yd³
Helpful Guides
- Cubic Yards, Tons, and Bags: A Material Conversion Guide
How to convert between cubic yards, tons, and bags for gravel, sand, soil, and mulch — with the density figures and formulas that make the math work.
- What Happens If You Overload Your Truck?
Overloading a pickup risks tickets, tire blowouts, brake failure, frame damage, and a voided warranty. Here is what actually happens and how to stay legal and safe.