A cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 2,000 to 2,200 pounds (1 to 1.1 tons) when dry, and up to 3,000 pounds when saturated with water. Moisture is the biggest variable: soil that feels merely damp can carry 20–30% more weight than the same soil dried out.
What changes the weight
Moisture is first — water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon, and a yard of soil can hold dozens of gallons after rain. Clay content is second: clay particles pack tighter than sand, so clay-heavy topsoil runs heavier per yard. Organic matter pulls the other way — compost-rich blends are noticeably lighter than mineral-heavy fill.
Dirt or topsoil? Plenty of people ask how much a yard of dirt weighs and mean exactly this, and suppliers use the two words loosely as well. Dry screened topsoil and general fill dirt land in the same range — 2,000 to 2,200 lbs per cubic yard — but fill dirt usually arrives damper and more compacted, so a yard of dirt often weighs closer to 2,400 lbs on the truck. Ask about moisture and screening, not just the product name.
Weight by soil type
| Material | Pounds per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Dry screened topsoil | 2,000–2,200 | 1.0–1.1 |
| Moist topsoil (typical delivery) | 2,200–2,700 | 1.1–1.35 |
| Wet / clay-heavy topsoil | 2,700–3,000 | 1.35–1.5 |
| Compost-rich garden blend | 1,500–1,800 | 0.75–0.9 |
| Fill dirt (compacted) | 2,200–2,700 | 1.1–1.35 |
Can your truck carry it?
This is where the weight matters most. A half-ton pickup (F-150, Silverado 1500) is rated for roughly 1,500–2,000 lbs of payload — less than one yard of topsoil, even though a yard fits easily in the bed by volume. A full yard of damp soil can exceed 2,500 lbs and overload the truck badly. Plan on half a yard per pickup trip, or just pay the delivery fee: most suppliers deliver 1–10 yards for $50–$100. Stone is heavier still — check how much a yard of river rock weighs before you load a trailer with both.
How much do you need?
Weight is what limits hauling, but you buy topsoil by volume, and volume starts with how many cubic feet are in a cubic yard. Use our topsoil calculator to convert your project area into cubic yards, tons, and 40-lb bag counts — it includes presets for lawns, gardens, and raised beds, plus a 15–20% settling allowance.