Raised Bed Soil Recipe Card
A one-page printable recipe card with the two most reliable raised bed soil mixes — the 60/30/10 classic and the 50/50 simple blend — pre-calculated for the three most popular bed sizes. Take it to the garden center so you buy exactly what you need.
What's on the Recipe Card
The printable recipe card covers two proven raised bed soil recipes, each with pre-calculated volumes for 4×4, 4×8, and 4×12 foot beds at standard fill depths (6″, 10″, and 12″). For each combination, it shows the total cubic feet needed and the exact amount of each ingredient — topsoil, compost, and drainage amendment — in both cubic feet and approximate bag counts. No math at the garden center.
Recipe 1: The 60/30/10 Classic
The 60/30/10 mix is the most widely recommended raised bed recipe across extension services and master gardener programs: 60% screened topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% drainage amendment (perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand). This blend provides good structure from the topsoil, nutrients and microbial life from the compost, and prevents waterlogging with the drainage layer. It works for vegetables, herbs, flowers, and perennials.
| Bed Size | Depth | Total Volume | Topsoil (60%) | Compost (30%) | Amendment (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 ft | 12″ | 16 cu ft | 9.6 cu ft | 4.8 cu ft | 1.6 cu ft |
| 4×8 ft | 12″ | 32 cu ft | 19.2 cu ft | 9.6 cu ft | 3.2 cu ft |
| 4×12 ft | 12″ | 48 cu ft | 28.8 cu ft | 14.4 cu ft | 4.8 cu ft |
Recipe 2: The 50/50 Simple Blend
The 50/50 blend — half screened topsoil, half compost — is the simplest and cheapest recipe. It works well for most vegetables and annual flowers, especially in beds 10 inches or deeper where the extra compost improves drainage naturally. The tradeoff is that pure compost decomposes and settles faster, so you will need to top off with 1–2 inches of fresh compost each spring. The 60/30/10 mix holds its volume better over multiple seasons.
| Bed Size | Depth | Total Volume | Topsoil (50%) | Compost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 ft | 10″ | 13.3 cu ft | 6.7 cu ft | 6.7 cu ft |
| 4×8 ft | 10″ | 26.7 cu ft | 13.3 cu ft | 13.3 cu ft |
| 4×12 ft | 10″ | 40 cu ft | 20 cu ft | 20 cu ft |
Shopping Tip: Convert to Bags
Screened topsoil is commonly sold in 1 cu ft bags (about 40 lb each). Compost is sold in 1 cu ft bags at garden centers or by the cubic yard in bulk. Perlite and vermiculite come in 4 cu ft bags at most garden centers. For a 4×8 bed at 12 inches using the 60/30/10 recipe, that is roughly 20 bags of topsoil, 10 bags of compost, and 1 bag of perlite. Bulk topsoil ($25–35/cu yd) and bulk compost ($30–50/cu yd) save significantly on larger orders — see the Bulk Buying Cheatsheet for the breakeven.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Do not fill a raised bed with only topsoil. Pure topsoil is dense (about 75 lb/cu ft), drains poorly, and compacts quickly — roots struggle to penetrate. Do not use garden soil (native soil from the ground) either, as it often contains weed seeds, compaction issues, and clay. The compost component is what makes raised beds work: it lightens the mix, feeds soil biology, holds moisture without waterlogging, and provides a slow-release nutrient base for the entire season.
Calculate Your Exact Volume
For non-standard bed sizes or irregular shapes, use the Topsoil Calculator to get precise volumes in cubic feet, cubic yards, and bag counts. Select "Raised Bed Mix" as the material type and the calculator will show a cost comparison between bagged and bulk purchasing.