How much soil for a 2×8 raised bed?
A 2 × 8 ft raised bed 12 inches tall, filled to 1 inch below the rim, holds 14.7 cubic feet of soil, the same as a 4 × 4. With 10% for settling, buy 16.1 cubic feet, or 11 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
How to work it out
- Soil depth: 12 in bed − 1 in below the rim = 11 in
- 8 ft × 2 ft × 11 in ÷ 12 = 14.7 cu ft (bed volume)
- 14.7 cu ft + 10% for settling = 16.1 cu ft
- 16.1 cu ft ÷ 1.5 cu ft per bag = 11 bags
Narrow 2 × 8 beds suit side yards, patios and the edge of a driveway, where a 4 ft bed would block the path. You can reach across the whole width from one side, and they are easy to build from standard 8 ft lumber.
Adjust for your project
More options: Settling · Mix · Bag price …
- Soil depth (filled)
- 11 in
- Soil to buy
- 16.1 cu ft (0.6 cu yd)
Soil for a 2 ft wide bed 12 in tall, by length
| Length | Soil to buy | Bags to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft | 8.07 cu ft | 6 bags |
| 6 ft | 12.1 cu ft | 9 bags |
| 8 ft | 16.1 cu ft | 11 bags |
| 10 ft | 20.2 cu ft | 14 bags |
| 12 ft | 24.2 cu ft | 17 bags |
What to know about a 2×8 raised bed
It holds the same soil as a 4 × 4, but it has 20 ft of wall around it instead of 16. More of the soil sits next to a board or a sheet of metal, so a narrow bed warms up faster in spring and dries out faster in summer. A soaker hose or a drip line on a timer running the length of the bed saves a lot of hand watering.
Framing it from 2×12 lumber takes three 8 ft boards: two for the long sides and one cut for the ends, leaving about 4 ft over. A single 2×12 is about 11¼ in tall, so the soil depth ends up nearer 10 in than 12 once you leave room below the rim.
Because the bed is only 2 ft wide, a 1.5 cu ft bag fills only about 10 inches of its length at an 11 in fill. That makes it easy to see how you are doing as you fill; if you run out, the end of the bed is still a clean stopping point.
For a wider bed against a fence, see How much soil for a 3×6 raised bed; the square alternative is How much soil for a 4×4 raised bed.
Different size? Use the full Raised Bed Soil Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Soaker hoseBudget price
Weeps water slowly along its length — good for beds and rows, and low enough pressure to run from a rain barrel.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Hose timerMid-range price
Shuts the water off for you. Handy for new seed and sod, which need frequent short waterings.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cedar raised bed kitMid-range price
Naturally rot-resistant wood, easy to extend or stack for depth. Expect the boards to weather gray.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How much soil for a 2×8 raised bed 18 inches deep?
24.9 cubic feet filled to an inch below the rim, with 10% for settling, or 17 bags of 1.5 cu ft.
How many 1 cu ft bags of soil fill a 2×8 raised bed?
17 bags of 1 cu ft for 16.1 cubic feet, including 10% for settling.
Other common sizes
- How much soil for a 4×8 raised bed — 32.3 cu ft
- How much soil for a 4×8 raised bed 18 inches deep — 49.9 cu ft
- How much soil for a 4×4 raised bed — 16.1 cu ft
- How much soil for a 3×6 raised bed — 18.2 cu ft
- How much soil for a 1.2 × 2.4 m raised bed — 871 L
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension: Raised bed gardens (opens in a new tab) — Soil blend of roughly 1/2–2/3 topsoil and 1/3–1/2 plant-based compost; too much compost holds excess water.
- University of Missouri Extension: Raised-Bed Gardening (G6985) (opens in a new tab) — Four feet is a convenient width; about 3 ft if reached from one side; most plants need a 6–12 in rooting zone.
- Oregon State University Extension: Raised bed gardening (FS 270) (opens in a new tab) — Beds longer than about 6 ft should be reinforced so the soil doesn’t push the sides out.