How much soil do you need for a 4×12 raised bed?

A 4×12 ft raised bed filled 12 inches deep holds 48 cubic feet (1.78 cubic yards) of soil — 32 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 24 bags of 2 cu ft.

Change the numbers

The calculator below is pre-filled for this project. Adjust any value — including feet and inches — and the results update instantly.

Soil settles 10–20% in the first season — plan to top up with compost.

Your results

Soil needed48 cu ft

Cubic yards1.78 cu yd

1 cu ft bags48

1.5 cu ft bags32

2 cu ft bags24

How much soil do you need for a 4×12 raised bed — diagram

Soil for a 4×12 bed at different depths

Soil depth	Cubic feet	Cubic yards	1.5 cu ft bags	2 cu ft bags
6 in	24	0.89	16	12
8 in	32	1.19	22	16
10 in	40	1.48	27	20
11 in	44	1.63	30	22
12 in	48	1.78	32	24
18 in	72	2.67	48	36
24 in	96	3.56	64	48

Building with lumber? A single 2×12 gives about 11 inches of soil depth, two stacked 2×6s also give 11 inches.

Planning this bed

At 4 ft wide you can reach the center from both sides without stepping on the soil — that keeps it loose. The bed has 48 sq ft of growing space. Expect the soil to settle 10–20% in the first season, so keep a few bags of compost to top it up.

The math

12 ft × 4 ft × (12 in ÷ 12) = 48 cu ft 48 ÷ 27 = 1.78 cu yd 48 ÷ 1.5 = 32 bags (rounded up)

Common questions

How many bags of soil for a 4x12 raised bed?

32 bags of 1.5 cu ft for 12 inches deep, or 16 bags for 6 inches.

How many cubic yards for a 4x12 raised bed?

1.78 cubic yards at 12 inches deep.

Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the raised bed soil calculator guide.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026. Results are estimates — confirm with your supplier.

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