Soil for a Raised Garden Bed

Filling a Standard Raised Garden Bed

The standard raised garden bed size of 2.4 metres by 1.2 metres has become popular because it matches common timber lengths and provides easy reach from both sides. When filling this bed to a typical 300mm depth, which gives vegetables adequate root space, you'll need approximately 0.86 cubic metres of garden mix soil. This volume accounts for a bed that's genuinely deep enough to grow a wide variety of crops successfully.

Garden mix soil at this volume weighs approximately 0.95 tonnes (950 kilograms), making bulk delivery the practical choice. Most landscape suppliers have minimum delivery quantities around half a cubic metre, so a single raised bed order fits comfortably within their service. The weight also makes it clear why filling raised beds by hand from bagged soil becomes impractical beyond the smallest beds.

Choosing the Right Soil Mix

For raised vegetable beds, garden mix or veggie mix is the ideal choice. These blends typically combine composted organic matter, aged manure, and quality topsoil to create a growing medium that drains well while retaining moisture and nutrients. Avoid using pure topsoil for raised beds, as it often compacts too heavily and lacks the organic content that vegetables need to thrive. If you're filling multiple beds, some suppliers offer custom blending to your specifications.

Filling Tips for Best Results

When your soil arrives, fill the bed in layers rather than dumping everything in at once. Add roughly 100mm at a time, watering each layer lightly to help it settle. This prevents air pockets that could cause the surface to sink dramatically after your first heavy watering. Leave the final level about 30mm below the bed's top edge to allow room for mulch and prevent soil washing over the sides during rain.

Building multiple raised beds? Use our main soil calculator to work out each bed and combine the totals for a single delivery.