3 × 6 ft bed: the short answer
Filled 10 inches deep, a 3 × 6 ft raised bed needs about 15.0 cubic feet of soil — that's roughly 10 bags of 1.5 cu ft (or 8 of the 2 cu ft size), and about 0.56 cubic yards if you order in bulk.
Bed size
Soil for a 3 × 6 ft raised bed
A 3 × 6 ft bed filled 10 inches deep takes about 15.0 cubic feet of soil — about 10 bags of 1.5 cu ft, or 0.56 cubic yards in bulk. Change the depth, bag size, or mix below for your exact build.
Soil needed
—Enter bed size and depth to estimate soil.
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Soil mix breakdown
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Shopping list
Run the calculator to prepare a list.
Estimate only.
Based on the bed volume you enter. Fresh soil and compost settle, so buying a little extra is
normal. Bag counts are rounded up; confirm against your supplier's bag coverage.
Before you buy
Soil and compost settle after the first few waterings, so buying one extra bag is sensible. If you need close to a cubic yard, compare bulk delivery — it's usually cheaper per cubic foot than bags. Adjust depth and bag size in the calculator for your exact build.
Standard volume math at 10″ depth; 1 cu yd = 27 cu ft. Estimates only.
What a 3 × 6 ft bed is usually used for
A 3 × 6 ft raised bed is a middle-ground planter for side yards, balconies, and small gardens: wide enough for real crops yet narrow enough to reach across. It works well for lettuce, herbs, bush beans, and compact tomatoes when arranged in rows or grid squares.
How to decide
At roughly 18 sq ft, the fill volume is about a cubic yard at full depth, which puts bag-versus-bulk on the line. Compare a bulk soil delivery with bagged raised-bed mix including the delivery fee. Whatever you choose, fill the bed in lifts and water between layers so the mix settles evenly.
Checks before you fill
- Reach-check the width so every planting spot stays accessible from a side.
- Compare bulk and bagged soil pricing including delivery before ordering.
- Fill and water in layers so the mix settles without air pockets.
FAQ
How much soil for a 3 × 6 ft raised bed?
At 10 inches deep, a 3 × 6 ft bed holds about 15.0 cubic feet of soil (0.56 cubic yards). In bags that's about 10 × 1.5 cu ft, or 8 × 2 cu ft. Deeper or shallower fills scale directly with depth — use the calculator above to match yours.
How many bags of soil for a 3 × 6 ft bed?
About 10 bags if you buy 1.5 cu ft bags, or 8 bags of the larger 2 cu ft size. Always round up — and add one extra bag, since compost settles after watering.
What's the Mel's Mix for a 3 × 6 ft bed?
Mel's Mix is equal thirds compost, peat moss or coir, and coarse vermiculite. For 15.0 cu ft that's about 5.0 cu ft of each — roughly 4 bags of 1.5 cu ft per component.
Sources & verification
Source links and page assumptions reviewed .
- Square Foot Gardening: Mel's Mix method — Defines Mel's Mix as equal volumes of blended compost, coarse vermiculite, and peat moss or coir.
Estimate only, based on standard volume math at 10″ depth. Real fill varies with settling and supplier bag sizes; bag counts are rounded up. Confirm against your supplier before ordering.