How deep each job needs to be
The depth is the number most people guess, and it has the biggest effect on the order.
- A new lawn from seed or sod. New Mexico State University's extension guide to establishing a lawn recommends adding topsoil and organic matter to reach a total topsoil depth of 4 to 6 inches after firming, and notes that a shallower soil can hurt the lawn's appearance and increase water use. If the existing ground already has a couple of inches of decent soil, you only need to make up the difference.
- Topping up a tired lawn or filling low spots. A thin layer, often 1 to 2 inches of triple mix worked in, rather than a full new depth.
- Garden and raised beds. Depends on what is going in and what is already there. Filling a new raised bed means its full height; refreshing an existing bed is a few inches.
- Gravel and base under a patio, walkway or shed pad. Your contractor or the paver manufacturer's instructions set the base depth, and the layers are ordered separately: a compacted crushed-stone base, then a thinner setting bed on top.
One more point on soil: loose soil firms down once it is raked, rolled and watered. When the answer falls between two half-yard steps, take the larger one.
Three worked examples with Toronto prices
All prices below are for the material only, per cubic yard, before HST. Delivery is quoted separately for your address and access.
1. A new lawn at the back of a North York bungalow, 20 ft × 25 ft at 4 inches of screened topsoil
20 × 25 × 4 ÷ 324 = 6.2 cubic yards, rounded up to 6.5 yards. Screened topsoil is $45 a yard, so the material is $292.50.
2. A new vegetable bed in a Leslieville backyard, 10 ft × 4 ft at 6 inches of triple mix
10 × 4 × 6 ÷ 324 = 0.74 cubic yards, which rounds up to the 1 yard minimum. Triple mix is $65 a yard, so the material is $65.
3. A shed pad in Etobicoke, 10 ft × 12 ft with a 4 inch crushed base and a 1 inch setting bed
Base: 10 × 12 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.48, rounded up to 1.5 yards of 3/4 crush at $50 = $75.
Setting bed: 10 × 12 × 1 ÷ 324 = 0.37, which rounds up to the 1 yard minimum of limestone screenings at $55 = $55.
The second example shows where the minimum matters. For a small bed under about half a yard, bagged soil from a garden centre can be the more sensible buy. Our bulk vs bagged mulch guide runs the same comparison for mulch.
Which soil or stone to order
Picking the right product matters as much as the volume. Here is what we stock and what each one is usually used for, with the published price per cubic yard:
| Product |
Typical use |
Per cubic yard |
| Screened topsoil |
Levelling, filling and grading |
$45 |
| Triple mix soil |
New lawns, topping up thin lawns, garden beds |
$65 |
| Premium top dressing garden soil |
Spreading thinly over an existing lawn |
$75 |
| Organic garden mix soil |
Vegetable and flower beds |
$85 |
| Gro-Max premium soil |
Raised beds and planters |
$95 |
| 3/4 crush |
Compacted base under pads, walkways and driveways |
$50 |
| 3/4 clear |
Drainage, around weeping tile, under decks |
$55 |
| Limestone screenings |
Levelling bed under patio stone and flagstone |
$55 |
| HPB |
Bedding layer under pavers |
$60 |
| 3/8 pea gravel |
Paths and play areas |
$70 |
| 1 to 3 inch or 4 to 6 inch river rock |
Dry creek beds and channels that move water away from a foundation |
$100 |
| Concrete sand, brick sand, Granular A |
Mixing and base work for masonry and hardscape |
$55 |
The difference between screened topsoil and triple mix is the one most homeowners ask about. Screened topsoil is soil alone, so it suits levelling or filling. Triple mix blends soil with compost and peat, so it holds moisture and feeds new growth, which makes it the better choice where something is going to grow.
The full list is on our pricing page.
Ordering in November
Material delivery in Toronto slows once the ground freezes, so late autumn is the last window for a few jobs:
- Filling low spots and grading around the house before winter, so meltwater runs away from the foundation rather than pooling against it.
- Gravel bases for a shed pad or walkway, while the ground can still be dug and compacted.
- Topping up beds after the fall clean-up.
New lawns from seed and the big mulch orders are usually spring work. If that is your project, measure now while the area is clear of growth, and order a week ahead in April, when the yard is busiest.
Getting the delivery right
A few things make the day go smoothly:
- Pick the tip spot. Most deliveries go on the driveway, which keeps the wheelbarrow run short. A backyard tip needs a wide enough gate and firm ground for the truck. Put a tarp down first if you want to protect the driveway surface.
- You do not need to be home, as long as the spot is clear and marked. A photo of where you want the pile works.
- Delivery only. Customer pickup from the yard is not available, and loose material cannot be ordered online. Every order is quoted.
Need Topsoil or Gravel Delivered in Toronto? Junk Alert Is Ready to Help
Send us the measurements and the depth, and we will convert them to yards and quote the material and delivery for your address.
See our topsoil and gravel delivery service, check every price on the pricing page, call us at (647) 456-6665, or contact us today to order. We deliver across Toronto and the GTA, Monday to Saturday from 7am.
