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Soil & Beds · guide

How Deep Should A Raised Bed Be

A focused guide to how deep should a raised bed be for planning your next yard project.

The needed soil depth depends on what will grow, the ground below the bed, and whether roots can continue into native soil.

Dark screened topsoil in a realistic loose pile, texture detail
Illustrative material view

How to plan it

  1. List crops and likely rooting needs
  2. Measure usable inside depth after any bottom layers
  3. Calculate fill volume using the actual depth, not the board height
Measure fill inside a raised bedUse the inside length, inside width, and actual fill depth; leave any unfilled rim out.fill depthinside lengthinside width × length × fill depth
Use the inside length, inside width, and actual fill depth; leave any unfilled rim out.
Check before buying: A bed over pavement needs a different depth and drainage plan from one open to soil.

Turn this into a quantity

Record your site measurements first. Then use a calculator with the depth, application rate, or coverage from the actual material specification.

Open topsoil calculator

Source and limits

University of Minnesota Extension: Soil testing for lawns and gardens. Local conditions and manufacturer guidance may call for different materials or installation details.