Filling a raised bed: how much soil do I need?
Enter the size and see how many liters and bags of soil, compost and material each layer needs, with an allowance for settling. Works on your phone, no sign-up.
Result
–
General planning aid, not gardening advice. Actual amounts depend on material, moisture and compaction.
Keep planning: bed, sowing and garden year
Own offer
Beetplan
Garden planner, calendar and Excel templates to download (German) – buy once, no subscription.
Own offer
Gartenjahr
Posters and fact sheets on sowing, beds and herbs as PDFs to print yourself (German).
Frequently asked questions
How do I fill a raised bed properly?
Layers from bottom to top are common: coarse shrub cuttings, then leaves or grass clippings, then a compost and soil mix and potting soil on top. The layers break down over the years, which is why the bed settles.
Why an allowance for settling?
The organic material decomposes and compacts. With about 10 to 20% allowance, the bed is not half empty after the first winter. You can change the value above.
What is a liter, what is a cubic meter?
1,000 liters are one cubic meter. A bag of soil usually holds 40 or 50 liters; the size is printed on the pack.
How accurate is the result?
It is a planning aid based on your measurements. It is best to buy a small buffer.