Dirt & Fill Dirt Calculator
Cubic yards and tons of fill for grading, holes and backfill, with compaction built in and truckloads shown.
- Yards, tons, bags & cost
- US & metric units
- Free, no sign-up
Add a price for a cost estimate
How this was calculated
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Filling a low spot, raising the grade around a foundation, backfilling a trench or filling in an old pool – they all start with the same question: how many yards of dirt? This dirt calculator gives you cubic yards and tons for any area and depth, adds the compaction that fill dirt always needs, and shows how many truckloads that is. Set the allowance to 0% to calculate dirt you need to remove.
How to use the dirt calculator
- Measure the area to fill
Enter length and width in feet (or the diameter for a round hole such as a removed pool or tree stump). For a sloping fill, use the average depth across the area.
- Enter the depth
For grading, the average depth you are raising the ground by. For a hole or trench, its depth. If you will finish with 4″ of topsoil on top, subtract that – fill goes below it.
- Choose the material
Loose fill dirt is the default. Clay fill is heavier and compacts more; sandy fill compacts less. Choose “compacted” if your supplier quotes the compacted weight.
- Set the compaction allowance
Fill dirt loses 15–25% of its volume when it is spread and compacted. The default is 15%. For structural fill under a slab or driveway that will be compacted in lifts, use 20–25%. For dirt removal, set it to 0%.
- Check the truckloads
Pick your truck size to see how many loads you need – useful for comparing a delivery quote or planning a rental dump trailer.
Fill dirt formula
Cubic yards (in place) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27Cubic yards to order = in-place volume × (1 + compaction %)Tons = cubic yards × 1.35 (loose fill) · Truckloads = yards ÷ truck capacity
Example: raise a 30 ft × 20 ft side yard by 8 inches
- Area = 30 × 20 = 600 sq ft
- Volume = 600 × (8 ÷ 12) = 400 ft³ = 14.8 yd³ in place
- Add 15% compaction → order 17 yd³ (about 23 tons)
- Truckloads: 17 ÷ 14 = 1.2 loads in a 14 yd³ dump truck – so two loads, or one tri-axle
How many yards of dirt do I need? Quick reference
| Area | 4″ fill | 6″ fill | 12″ fill | 24″ fill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft (10×10) | 1.2 yd³ | 1.9 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 7.4 yd³ |
| 200 sq ft (10×20) | 2.5 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 7.4 yd³ | 14.8 yd³ |
| 400 sq ft (20×20) | 4.9 yd³ | 7.4 yd³ | 14.8 yd³ | 29.6 yd³ |
| 600 sq ft (20×30) | 7.4 yd³ | 11.1 yd³ | 22.2 yd³ | 44.4 yd³ |
| 1,000 sq ft | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ | 37 yd³ | 74 yd³ |
In-place volume – add 15–25% for compaction. Multiply yards by 1.35 for tons of loose fill.
Dirt weight by type
| Material | lb / ft³ | lb / yd³ | US tons / yd³ | kg / m³ | tonnes / m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt (loose) | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1,602 | 1.60 |
| Fill dirt (compacted) | 115 | 3,105 | 1.55 | 1,842 | 1.84 |
| Clay / clay fill | 110 | 2,970 | 1.49 | 1,762 | 1.76 |
| Sandy fill | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 1,682 | 1.68 |
| Topsoil | 90 | 2,430 | 1.22 | 1,442 | 1.44 |
| Excavated earth (dry) | 95 | 2,565 | 1.28 | 1,522 | 1.52 |
| Excavated earth (wet) | 110 | 2,970 | 1.49 | 1,762 | 1.76 |
Moisture is the big variable. The same yard of fill can weigh 2,500 lb in August and 3,200 lb after a week of rain. Suppliers who sell by the ton may deliver less soil when it is wet; suppliers who sell by the yard measure the truck bed, so the volume is what you pay for.
Truckload sizes
| Vehicle | Capacity (loose yd³) | Approx. weight of fill |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup truck (half-ton) | 1 yd³ max (payload limit) | 1.3 tons |
| Dump trailer (rental) | 3–5 yd³ | 4–7 tons |
| Single-axle dump truck | 5–7 yd³ | 7–9 tons |
| Tandem dump truck | 10–14 yd³ | 14–19 tons |
| Tri-axle dump truck | 16–18 yd³ | 22–24 tons |
Trucks are limited by weight as much as volume, so a tandem rated for 14 yards may legally carry only 10–12 yards of wet clay. Ask the supplier how many yards they actually put on.
Fill dirt vs. topsoil vs. structural fill
- Fill dirt – subsoil with little organic matter. Stable, cheap, will not shrink as it decomposes. Use it for anything that needs to stay put: grading, holes, backfill.
- Topsoil – the living top layer. Use it only for the final 4–6″ where you want things to grow. Never use it as deep fill – it compresses and settles for years.
- Structural / select fill – screened granular fill (often sandy clay or crushed stone) specified by an engineer for under slabs and foundations, placed and compacted in 6–8″ lifts.
- Clean fill – fill certified free of contaminants and debris; required by code in many areas for anything near a house or drain.
How much does fill dirt cost?
Fill dirt is often the cheapest material you can buy – $5–$25 per cubic yard at the source, and sometimes free from excavation sites that need to get rid of it. Delivery is the real cost: expect $50–$150 per truckload depending on distance, so it pays to fill a truck completely. Screened or certified clean fill costs more. Dirt removal is priced the other way around – you pay a hauling fee per load, which is why knowing your yardage before you call matters.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons is a yard of dirt?
Loose fill dirt is about 1.35 tons per cubic yard (2,700 lb). Compacted fill is 1.5–1.6 tons per yard, dry topsoil about 1.05 tons, and wet clay can reach 1.7 tons.
How many yards of dirt are in a dump truck?
A tandem dump truck carries 10–14 cubic yards; a tri-axle 16–18 yards; a single-axle 5–7 yards. The calculator’s truckload row lets you pick the size your supplier uses.
How much fill dirt do I need for a 10×10 area, 6 inches deep?
10 × 10 × 0.5 ft = 50 cubic feet = 1.85 cubic yards in place. With 15% compaction, order about 2.1 yards (2.9 tons).
How much does fill dirt compact?
Typically 15–25%. Sandy fill compacts the least (10–15%), clay the most (20–30%). Compaction also depends on how it is placed: dumped and left, it settles slowly over months; spread in lifts and rolled, it compacts immediately.
How do I calculate dirt to remove from a hole or excavation?
Enter the hole’s length, width and depth with the allowance set to 0%. Note that excavated dirt swells 20–30% once it is dug, so the pile (and the number of trucks to haul it away) will be about a quarter larger than the hole volume.
Can I use fill dirt to grow grass?
Not on its own. Fill dirt has almost no nutrients or organic matter. Use fill to bring the grade up to 4–6″ below finished height, then add topsoil for the lawn. Our topsoil calculator works out that layer.
