Plotting Soil Calculator | How Much Soil Needed for Potting?

Last Updated : May 05, 2025

Utilize our online potting soil calculator tool to measure the amount of soil needed in a container for potting easily and quickly. For using this calculator, give the inputs in the allocated input boxes, and then hit the calculate button. So that you will get the answer instantly.

Potting Soil Calculator: Do you want to plant and not know how much soil you need in a container? Then use our potting soil calculator tool, which helps you to calculate how much soil is needed for the container. If you give the type of container along with depth, length, and width as inputs you can easily get the output. Read on to know the complete concept of potting soil and how to calculate it manually?

Formulas for the Shape of a Container

Here we are going to know the formulas for the volume of the container. So that you can also calculate the soil needed for a container manually. We are going to see the formulas for 3 types of containers.

Rectangular Container
Round Container
Truncated Cone Container

Now we will see the formulas of the containers,

Rectangular Container:

volume = depth * length * width

Round Container:

volume = π * R² * depth

where,

R = radius.

Truncated Cone Container:

volume = (1/3) * π * depth * (r² + r * R + R²)

Where

r = base radius

R = top radius

How do you Find the Soil Needed for Potting?

Below are the guidelines that help you to calculate the soil needed for potting easily by hand.

First, write down the values that are given in the problem.
Based on the container that was given in the problem. Appy the formula of that container.
After that, substitute the values in the formula.
Simplify the equation.
Finally, you will see the answer.

Example for Finding the Soil Needed in a Container

Question: Find the soil needed for a rectangular container where the depth is 5 cm and width of the container is 8 cm and the length is 3 cm.

Solution:

Given that,

depth = 5cm

width = 8cm

length = 3cm

Apply the formula for the volume of the container

Volume = depth * length * width

Volume = 5 * 3 * 8

= 120 lit.

Hence the soil needed in the container is 120lit.

In the same process by changing the required formulas you can calculate the other two containers.

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FAQs on Potting Soil Calculator

1. What is the volume of the Truncated cone container?

The volume of the truncated cone container is Volume = (1/3) * π * depth * (r² + r * R + R²).

2. How to use our potting soil calculator?

All you need to do is select the shape of the container and give the inputs in the given input boxes and then click the calculate button. So that you will get the answer easily.

3. How do you calculate the soil needed in a Round container?

We will calculate the soil needed in a round container by using the formula, Volume = π * R² * depth