What topsoil for a new lawn?
Updated July 2026
For a new lawn, buy screened topsoil and lay it at least 100mm deep over firm, cleared ground. TopTurf sells screened topsoil at £70 a bulk bag, which covers about 7 m2 at that depth.
Not all topsoil is the same, and for a new lawn the grade matters more than the price per bag. Soil full of stones, clay lumps or builder's leftovers gives you a bumpy surface, poor drainage and thin, patchy grass that never quite fills in. Get the right soil at the right depth and the lawn does most of the hard work itself.
The grade decides how the lawn turns out
Topsoil is just the top layer of soil, but bagged topsoil ranges from cheap unscreened fill to graded, certified soil. For a lawn you care about two things: how clean it is and how it drains. As a rough guide, unscreened economy soil is for bulking up levels, screened soil is for the growing layer your grass roots into, and premium soil is screened topsoil tested against the British Standard.
BS3882 is the UK standard suppliers quote for quality topsoil. It is not essential for every job, but it takes the guesswork out of what is in the bag. TopTurf keeps it simple and stocks screened topsoil only, which suits most domestic lawns.
What good lawn topsoil looks like
Texture first. You want a sandy loam or medium loam that holds moisture but still drains. Avoid heavy clay, which waterlogs and sets hard, and avoid near pure sand, which dries out too fast for grass roots.
Stones and debris matter for a lawn more than for a border. Screened to 10mm takes out stones, roots and rubbish, so you can rake the ground to a fine, level tilth and turf sits flat. Unscreened soil with stones and clods leaves lumps and hollows that show through the finished grass.
On pH, grass is happy from roughly 5.5 to 7, slightly acidic to neutral, and most decent topsoil sits in that range. Also check the soil is not full of live weed and root, which will come straight back up through a new lawn.
How deep, and how much to order
Lay a new lawn on at least 100mm of good topsoil. 150mm is better if you are starting from bare subsoil or the ground is poor, because it gives roots more depth to pull moisture from in a dry summer. Less than 100mm and the lawn struggles in dry spells.
For the maths: a bulk bag is around 0.7 cubic metres, roughly a tonne, and covers about 7 m2 at 100mm deep or about 14 m2 at 50mm. Topsoil weighs around 1.5 tonnes per cubic metre, so a loose tonne covers a similar 7 m2 at 100mm.
Worked example: a 40 m2 back lawn at 100mm needs about 4 cubic metres, which is roughly 6 bulk bags or 6 tonnes. At 150mm it is about 6 cubic metres. Order a little over, because soil settles by 10 to 20 percent once you firm it down.
What TopTurf supplies, and the cost
TopTurf sells one grade of topsoil: screened topsoil at £70 a bulk bag. Stones taken out, easy to rake level, fine under turf or seed, which is exactly what a new lawn needs.
A bulk bag is about 0.7 cubic metres and covers roughly 7 m2 at 100mm deep, so most lawns work out at a handful of bags. Work out your area, divide by seven and round up.
Delivery from our Leigh base is from £20, based on your postcode and how much you order.
Sort the ground before the soil goes down
Topsoil only works if what is under it is right. Clear the area of old turf, weeds and rubble. On heavy or compacted ground, break the surface up so the new soil ties in and water can move through, otherwise you get a wet layer sitting on hardpan.
Spread the topsoil, rake it level, then firm it by treading it over or with a light roller, and rake again. Firming shows up the hollows so you can top them before turfing. Once the bed is level and firm you can lay turf straight onto it or sow seed.
TopTurf cuts lawn turf to order for next-day at £4 per m2, so you can order the soil and the turf together and lay in one go. If you would rather not do it yourself, ask about supply-and-lay and the whole lot gets laid for you.
Questions
What topsoil is best for a new lawn?
Screened topsoil with a sandy loam or medium loam texture and few stones. It rakes to a level seedbed and suits turf and seed alike. TopTurf sells screened topsoil at £70 a bulk bag.
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
At least 100mm. Go to 150mm if you are laying over bare subsoil or the existing ground is poor, as the extra depth helps roots find moisture in summer. Below 100mm the lawn dries out and thins in hot spells.
How much topsoil do I need for my lawn?
Work out area times depth. At 100mm, one bulk bag (about 0.7 cubic metres) covers roughly 7 m2, and a tonne covers about the same. So a 40 m2 lawn at 100mm needs around 4 cubic metres, about 6 bulk bags or 6 tonnes. Add a little extra for settlement.
Can I lay turf straight onto topsoil?
Yes, once the soil is spread, raked level and firmed. Turf needs contact with a fine, firm surface, so tread or roll the bed and rake out any hollows first. Do not lay turf on soft, lumpy or stony ground, as it will settle unevenly.
What is the difference between economy, screened and premium topsoil?
Economy fill is unscreened and best for bulking up levels underneath. Screened topsoil has the stones and debris taken out and is the standard choice for the growing layer of a lawn. Premium BS3882 is screened and tested to the British Standard. TopTurf stocks the screened grade only, at £70 a bulk bag.
Need the materials?
We supply topsoil and lawn turf across Leigh and Greater Manchester. Order by phone or email. Want it laid? Barrow Landscaping can prep the ground and lay it.