5 × 5 ft bed: the short answer
Filled 10 inches deep, a 5 × 5 ft raised bed needs about 20.8 cubic feet of soil — that's roughly 14 bags of 1.5 cu ft (or 11 of the 2 cu ft size), and about 0.77 cubic yards if you order in bulk.
Bed size
Soil for a 5 × 5 ft raised bed
A 5 × 5 ft bed filled 10 inches deep takes about 20.8 cubic feet of soil — about 14 bags of 1.5 cu ft, or 0.77 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.
| Total volume | — |
|---|---|
| Bulk (cubic yards) | — |
| Bags to buy | — |
| Volume (litres) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Soil mix breakdown
| Component | Cu ft | Bags |
|---|
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 5 × 5 ft bed is usually used for
A 5 × 5 ft raised bed is a square planter that suits grid gardening, bush crops, and mixed vegetables while fitting neatly into a corner of the yard. The square shape makes it easy to divide into planting squares or a simple row layout for compact varieties.
How to decide
The square footprint concentrates plants close together, so spacing and soil quality decide yield. Use a well-aerated mix and follow spacing for each crop rather than packing the bed. At about 25 sq ft, bagged soil is still workable but a small bulk order may cost less per cubic foot.
Checks before you fill
- Follow crop spacing; a square bed invites overplanting that lowers yield.
- Compare bagged versus bulk fill pricing at roughly one cubic yard of volume.
- Keep pathways clear so you can reach every square without stepping on soil.
FAQ
How much soil for a 5 × 5 ft raised bed?
At 10 inches deep, a 5 × 5 ft bed holds about 20.8 cubic feet of soil (0.77 cubic yards). In bags that's about 14 × 1.5 cu ft, or 11 × 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 5 × 5 ft bed?
About 14 bags if you buy 1.5 cu ft bags, or 11 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 5 × 5 ft bed?
Mel's Mix is equal thirds compost, peat moss or coir, and coarse vermiculite. For 20.8 cu ft that's about 6.9 cu ft of each — roughly 5 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.