When it comes to buying bulk quantities of garden soil, two popular options are Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag. Both companies deliver high-quality soil right to your door in a large bag or cube. But which one is better for your gardening needs? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag on key factors like price, quality, selection, delivery, and more.
Overview of Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag
Soil3 is a family-owned company that makes soil, compost, and soil blends for home gardens and lawns Their products are OMRI listed for organic gardening. Soil3 has a wide selection of bulk soil options delivered in 1 cubic yard BigYellowBags They also sell smaller cubes and buckets.
Big Yellow Bag delivers bulk black garden soil and mulch in their signature BigYellowBags to homes and businesses They’ve delivered over 15 million bags across the U,S, Big Yellow Bag sells 1 cubic yard bags of garden soil along with some mulch products,
Both companies provide an easy, mess-free way to get bulk quantities of soil delivered right to your house. Keep reading to see how Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag compare on the specifics.
Soil Quality
When buying bulk soil, quality is paramount You want rich, fertile soil that will provide nutrients for your plants to thrive.
Soil3 uses a compost-based approach. Their Garden Soil, Veggie Mix, and other blends are made by combining compost, organic materials like wheat straw, and sand. Soil3 enriches their soil with compost made from grass clippings, manure, and other organic materials. Their soils have a loose, crumbly texture that absorbs water well.
Big Yellow Bag garden soil is advertised as “black gold” topsoil. Their basic garden soil blend includes compost and sand. However, Big Yellow Bag does not provide as much detail about the specific ingredients or composition of their soil.
The consensus from users is that Soil3 soil is higher quality, with more organic matter and nutrients. Their compost-based blends result in excellent soil structure and water retention. Soil3 users say their plants, vegetables, and lawns thrive in Soil3 soil.
Product Selection
Soil3 offers a wider selection of bulk soil and compost products compared to Big Yellow Bag.
Soil3 has over a dozen bulk soil products including:
- Humus Compost
- Veggie Mix
- Garden Soil
- Level Mix
- Raised Bed Mix
- Potting Soil
- Lawn Soil
- And more!
They also sell mulch, grass seed, tools, and other lawn & garden supplies.
Big Yellow Bag focuses on their signature Garden Soil along with a mulch product. Their selection is more limited compared to Soil3.
So if you want diverse soil and amendment options for different gardening needs, Soil3 is the better choice. Big Yellow Bag works if you just need a basic garden soil.
Delivery Experience
The delivery process is another key difference between Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag.
Soil3 offers curbside delivery across their service regions. You can specify delivery notes and have the bag placed wherever you want – just mark the spot with an X! Soil3 also offers pick-up from their Super Sod stores if you have a truck.
Users praise Soil3’s delivery service for being fast, convenient, and hassle-free. You don’t need to be home or help unload. The Soil3 delivery crew places the bag wherever you designate.
Big Yellow Bag provides home delivery for an added fee of $50. Otherwise, you need to pick up the bag from a distributor location. Users comment that Soil3’s delivery service is much more convenient compared to Big Yellow Bag.
So if you want the ease of home delivery without lugging bags yourself, Soil3 is the winner here.
Bag Size Options
For small gardens, a 1 cubic yard bag provides plenty of soil. But for larger projects, the bag size options matter.
The flagships products for both brands are 1 cubic yard bags:
- Soil3 BigYellowBag = 1 cubic yard
- Big Yellow Bag = 1 cubic yard
This size bags weighs around 2,000 lbs when full. The large-capacity bags minimize the number you need to buy.
However, Soil3 also offers smaller bag sizes:
- Micro Cubes = 1.5 gallons
- Mini Cubes = 1 cubic feet
- Buckets = 3.5 gallons
The smaller bags are perfect if you just need soil for a few containers or a small garden bed.
So Soil3 again wins here by offering bags for small and large gardening projects. Big Yellow Bag only sells the massive 1 cubic yard option.
Price
When comparing bulk soil costs, Soil3 comes out as the more affordable option per cubic yard.
Soil3 1 cubic yard bag = Starts at $189.99
- Humus Compost: $189.99
- Garden Soil: $199.99
- Veggie Mix: $209.99
Big Yellow Bag 1 cubic yard = $179.99 for garden soil
Keep in mind Big Yellow Bag charges an extra $50 for home delivery, bringing the total to $229.99. With Soil3’s free delivery, their pricing is very competitive or cheaper for superior soil.
The verdict? Soil3 offers better value considering their prices include delivery and higher-quality soil.
Service Regions
Soil3 and Big Yellow Bag have overlapping but different service regions.
Soil3 delivers bulk soil and compost in these states:
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Alabama
Big Yellow Bag currently services these states:
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- New Jersey
There is no clear winner here since service regions depend on your location. Both brands are regional companies. If you live outside their delivery zones, neither is an option.
Final Verdict: Soil3 vs Big Yellow Bag
When comparing overall value, service, and product quality, Soil3 comes out on top over Big Yellow Bag.
Key advantages of Soil3:
- Higher quality compost-based soils
- Diverse selection of bulk soil, compost, and blends
- Free delivery with flexible placement
- More affordable pricing
- Smaller bag sizes available
Big Yellow Bag does offer a quality garden soil. But their selection is limited compared to Soil3, and their delivery fees add hidden costs.
For superior soil matched with excellent service, choose Soil3 for your bulk garden soil needs. Feed your soil and let your gardens thrive!
Create Your Own Outdoor Magic With BigYellowBag® Today!
Perfect for lawns, gardens & planters. BigYellowBag® Black Garden Soil allows you to create the lawn & garden of your dreams. Whether its a small project, or a complete overhaul, trust the best, trust the professionals, trust BigYellowBag®.
The backyard of your dreams is one BigYellowBag away.
Top quality Soil3 Compost delivered for vegetable gardens //Big Yellow Bag
FAQ
How much soil is in a big yellow bag?
Size: 1 BigYellowBag contains 1 cubic yard (or 27 cubic feet) and weighs from 1,500 to 1,700 lbs., depending on moisture content.
What are the yellow beads in potting soil?
The small yellow, green or clear fluid-filled beads you see in the potting mix are not insect eggs. It is the plant food called Osmocote‘ These fertilizer prills absorb moisture to allow the liquid fertilizer inside to pass out of the prill into the soil.
Is Big Yellow Bag soil organic?
What is a 3-way soil?
3-way traditionally refers to a three-part blend of sand, topsoil, and compost. Because our topsoil is naturally sandy, we make 3-Way Topsoil using just topsoil and compost. This blend is denser than Garden Mix (50/50) but lighter and richer than Basic Topsoil.Mar 27, 2025
What is big yellow bag soil?
Whether you’re planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs, Big Yellow Bag Soil is the perfect foundation for your garden beds. Its improved soil structure promotes healthy root growth and helps plants establish themselves quickly. Plus, the easy application process makes it a breeze to get your garden beds up and running in no time.
Does soil3 offer a guarantee on the Big Yellow Bag?
Soil3 offers an exceptional guarantee on the Big Yellow Bag. If you aren’t fully satisfied with your compost when it arrives, Soil3 will pick it up and refund you 100%. This demonstrates the company’s confidence in their premium soil products.
How much soil does a bigyellowbag contain?
Size: 1 BigYellowBag contains 1 cubic yard (or 27 cubic feet) Rate: Rates vary, depending on what you’re doing. Look up how much Soil³ you’ll need on our rates page. This page features a compost calculator and at-a-glance rates.
What is a big yellow bag?
Soil3’s signature Big Yellow Bag contains 1 cubic yard of high-quality compost soil blend delivered right to your door. This bag provides an easy, mess-free way to enrich your lawn, garden beds, flower pots, and more. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Soil3’s Big Yellow Bag. What is Soil3?
How does soil3’s Big Yellow bag work?
One major perk of Soil3’s Big Yellow Bag is the delivery straight to your house. After ordering online, you’ll receive a text notification with a 4-hour delivery window. No need to be home – the driver will place the bag wherever you prefer on your property. The compost is dumped right into the reusable yellow bag. No mess, no fuss!
How much compost is in a big yellow bag?
Each Big Yellow Bag contains 1 cubic yard or 27 cubic feet of Soil3 compost blend, This blend is crafted from By combining these nutrient-rich organic materials in the right proportions, Soil3 produces an exceptional compost. Their composting process allows the materials to break down fully.