Best Topsoil & Garden Soil for DIYers
The right soil sets up everything you plant. Garden and raised-bed soils are enriched for planting; plain topsoil and fill are for leveling and grading. Match the product to whether you are growing or filling.
What to look for
- ·Use enriched garden or raised-bed soil for planting beds and vegetables; plain topsoil for leveling, patching lawns, and grading.
- ·Buy bagged for small jobs and beds, bulk by the cubic yard for large areas (far cheaper per volume).
- ·For raised beds, a blend of garden soil and compost beats straight topsoil for drainage and nutrients.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miracle-Gro Raised Bed & Garden Soil | Editor's pick | $8 to $15 per 1.5 cu ft bag | Raised beds and vegetable gardens |
| Kellogg Garden Organics All-Natural | Editor's pick | $8 to $14 per 1.5 cu ft bag | Organic vegetable beds |
| Coast of Maine Organic Soil | Editor's pick | $10 to $16 per bag | Premium organic growing |
| Scotts Premium Topsoil | Best value | $4 to $7 per .75 cu ft bag | Leveling and lawn patching |
| Vigoro Garden Soil | Best value | $4 to $8 per bag | Value planting soil |
| Timberline Top Soil | Best value | $3 to $6 per .75 cu ft bag | Filling and grading |
| Bulk Screened Topsoil (by the yard) | Budget pick | $15 to $50 per cubic yard | Large grading and fill jobs |
| Store-Brand Topsoil | Budget pick | $2.50 to $5 per bag | Small fill jobs on a budget |
| Michigan Peat Garden Magic | Budget pick | $4 to $7 per 40 lb bag | Budget soil conditioning |
Editor's pick
Miracle-Gro Raised Bed & Garden Soil
$8 to $15 per 1.5 cu ft bag
An enriched, ready-to-plant soil formulated for raised beds and in-ground gardens, with nutrients to feed plants for months. The convenient premium pick for growing.
Best for: Raised beds and vegetable gardens
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart.
Kellogg Garden Organics All-Natural
$8 to $14 per 1.5 cu ft bag
An organic, OMRI-listed garden soil rich in compost for healthy beds and vegetables. The pick for gardeners who want a natural, nutrient-dense soil.
Best for: Organic vegetable beds
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Coast of Maine Organic Soil
$10 to $16 per bag
A premium organic planting soil with compost and natural amendments, prized for raised beds and containers. High quality for serious gardeners.
Best for: Premium organic growing
Typically available at Home Depot, Garden centers.
Best value
Scotts Premium Topsoil
$4 to $7 per .75 cu ft bag
A general-purpose topsoil for leveling, patching lawns, and amending beds at a fair price. A reliable value for everyday yard work.
Best for: Leveling and lawn patching
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Vigoro Garden Soil
$4 to $8 per bag
An enriched garden soil at a budget-friendly price, widely stocked for beds and borders. A solid mid-value choice for planting on a budget.
Best for: Value planting soil
Typically available at Home Depot.
Timberline Top Soil
$3 to $6 per .75 cu ft bag
A screened general topsoil for filling, leveling, and grading at a low price. A dependable value when you need plain soil rather than a planting mix.
Best for: Filling and grading
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Budget pick
Bulk Screened Topsoil (by the yard)
$15 to $50 per cubic yard
The cheapest way to move serious volume for grading, leveling, or building up a yard. You haul and spread it, but the per-yard price beats bags by a wide margin.
Best for: Large grading and fill jobs
Typically available at Landscape suppliers.
Store-Brand Topsoil
$2.50 to $5 per bag
Basic bagged topsoil at the lowest per-bag price for small fill and leveling jobs. Not a planting mix, but cheap and handy for patching low spots.
Best for: Small fill jobs on a budget
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart.
Michigan Peat Garden Magic
$4 to $7 per 40 lb bag
An affordable peat-based soil conditioner and topdressing for improving beds and lawns. A budget way to add organic matter to existing soil.
Best for: Budget soil conditioning
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?+
Topsoil is general-purpose soil for leveling, filling, and patching lawns. Garden soil and raised-bed soil are topsoil enriched with compost and nutrients for planting. Use garden soil where you grow, and plain topsoil where you fill or grade.
What soil do I use for a raised bed?+
A raised-bed or garden soil, ideally blended with compost, gives the drainage and nutrients plants need. A common mix is roughly half quality garden soil and half compost. Straight topsoil alone is too dense for most raised beds.
How much soil do I need?+
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. A 1.5 cubic foot bag covers roughly 6 square feet at the same depth. Measure length times width times depth, and buy a little extra for settling.
Bagged or bulk soil?+
Bagged soil is convenient for small beds and easy to handle, but costs more per volume. Bulk by the cubic yard is far cheaper for large projects if you can haul and spread it. Big beds and grading usually call for bulk.
Can I just use cheap fill dirt?+
Fill dirt and screened topsoil are fine for leveling, grading, and building up low spots, but they lack the nutrients and structure for planting. For anything you want to grow, spend up for enriched garden or raised-bed soil on top.