How much soil for a 4×4 raised bed

A 4×4 raised bed 12 inches deep needs 16 cubic feet of soil: 8 bags of 2 cubic feet, or about 0.6 cubic yards.

Fill it with a 1:1 mix of compost and garden soil or topsoil (University of Illinois Extension): 8 cubic feet of each. Illinois Extension also notes the bed settles as the compost breaks down, so plan to top it up each year.

At 4 feet wide this bed is reachable from both sides, within Illinois Extension's 4-foot limit for beds you can walk all the way around.

Soil for a 4×4 bed (4 by 4 feet)
DepthCubic feetCubic yards2 cu ft bags1.5 cu ft bags1 cu ft bags
6 in80.30468
8 in10.70.406811
10 in13.30.497914
12 in160.5981116
18 in240.89121624
24 in321.19162232

Cubic feet = length × width × depth in inches ÷ 12; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27; bags rounded up. Bed sizes and fill: Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension, “Raised Bed Gardening” (July 2023). Soil calculator for any size.

What fits in a 4×4 bed

A raised bed has no rows, so we space plants the USDA in-row distance apart both ways, in a grid (our method, not USDA's). The range runs from USDA's widest to its closest spacing.

Plants that fit in 4 by 4 feet
CropSpacingPlants
Asparagus18 in4
Beets2–3 in256–576
Broccoli14–24 in4–9
Brussels Sprouts14–24 in4–9
Cabbage14–24 in4–9
Cantaloupe6 feet0
Carrots2–3 in256–576
Cauliflower14–24 in4–9
Celery4–6 in64–144
Chervil and Chives2–3 in256–576
Chinese Cabbage8–12 in16–36
Collard Greens1½–2 feet4
Corn Salad12 in16
Cucumbers3 feet1
Dandelion Greens8–12 in16–36
Eggplant3 feet1
Endive12 in16
Fennel4–6 in64–144
Garlic2–3 in256–576
Green Beans3–4 in144–256
Head Lettuce12–15 in9–16
Horseradish1½–2 feet4
Kale12–15 in9–16
Kohlrabi5–6 in64–81
Leeks2–3 in256–576
Lettuce6 in64
Lima Beans3–4 in144–256
Mustard Greens12 in16
New Zealand Spinach18 in4
Okra2 feet4
Onion Seed2–3 in256–576
Onion Sets2–3 in256–576
Onions2–3 in256–576
Parsley4–6 in64–144
Parsnips2–3 in256–576
Peas1 in2,304
Peppers1½–2 feet4
Potatoes10–18 in4–16
Radishes1 in2,304
Rhubarb3–4 feet1
Rutabaga2–3 in256–576
Salsify2–3 in256–576
Shallots2–3 in256–576
Sorrel5–8 in36–81
Soybeans3 in256
Spinach3–4 in144–256
Summer Squash (Zucchini)15–18 in4–9
Sweet Corn14–16 in9
Sweet Potatoes12–14 in9–16
Swiss Chard6 in64
Tomatoes1½–3 feet1–4
Turnips2–3 in256–576
Upland Cress2–3 in256–576
Watermelon2–3 feet1–4
Winter Squash2–3 feet1–4
Witloof Chicory6–8 in36–64

Spacing: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” table 2. Plan this bed for your town · Spacing chart.

Updated