Free Fill Dirt Calculator
Use this fill dirt calculator to see how many yards or tons of dirt you need to fill a hole, raise a low spot or level a pad.
Fill dirt is subsoil, usually with some clay, sand and small rock and very little organic matter. It is cheap and compacts firmly, which makes it the right material for raising ground, filling holes and building up a level pad. It is not good for growing plants: put topsoil on top for that.
Measure the area and the average depth you need to fill. Loose dirt compacts, so the calculator adds 20% by default.
Dirt calculator example: filling a low spot
Filling a 20 × 10 ft low area 6 in deep: 200 sq ft × 6 in ÷ 12 = 100 cu ft, plus 20% extra = 120 cu ft. Divide by 27 to get 4.44 cubic yards, which weighs about 5.33 tons.
How deep should fill dirt be?
| Use | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Filling a low spot in a lawn | Depth of the dip | Finish with 2 to 4 in of topsoil. |
| Raising a garden area | 6 to 12 in | Top with topsoil for planting. |
| Building up a shed or patio pad | As needed | Compact in 4 to 6 in layers. |
| Backfilling a trench or hole | Full depth |
Fill dirt or topsoil?
| Fill dirt | Topsoil | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Subsoil, little organic matter | Top layer of soil, rich in organic matter |
| Use for | Raising ground, filling holes, base layers | Lawns, beds and the top few inches of any fill |
| Compacts | Yes, firmly | Settles, stays loose enough for roots |
| Cost | Usually the cheapest | More expensive |
Coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 |
| 2 in | 162 |
| 3 in | 108 |
| 4 in | 81 |
| 6 in | 54 |
| 12 in | 27 |
| 24 in | 14 |
Buying tips
- Fill dirt is often sold by the truckload. Ask how many cubic yards a load holds so you can compare prices.
- For a lawn or garden, use fill dirt for the bulk and finish with at least 4 in of topsoil.
- Compact fill in layers of 4 to 6 inches. Dumping it all at once leads to settling later.
- A cubic yard of dirt weighs about a ton, more when wet, so most pickups can carry only about a yard per trip.
How much does fill dirt weigh?
A cubic yard of fill dirt typically weighs 2,000 to 2,800 lb (1 to 1.4 tons). The calculator uses 2,400 lb (1.2 tons) per cubic yard. Moisture and grading change the weight, so if your supplier sells by the ton, ask for their figure.
Frequently asked questions
How much fill dirt do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 324 for cubic yards, then add about 20% for compaction. A 20 × 10 ft area 6 in deep needs 100 cu ft, about 3.7 cubic yards, or 4.4 cubic yards with 20% extra.
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
Typically 2,000 to 2,800 lb, depending on moisture and clay content. Our estimate uses 2,400 lb (1.2 tons).
Is this a dirt calculator for topsoil too?
The volume maths is the same, but topsoil weighs a little less and settles less. Use the topsoil calculator for lawns and beds.
How many yards of dirt are in a dump truck?
It depends on the truck: small dump trucks carry about 5 to 10 cubic yards, larger tandem trucks 10 to 15. Ask your supplier for their load size.
How accurate is this fill dirt calculator?
The fill dirt calculator gives the exact volume for the measurements you enter, then adds 20% extra (you can change it). Weights use a typical 1.2 tons per cubic yard; real loads vary with moisture, so confirm with your supplier if you buy by the ton. Measure carefully: an error of one inch in depth changes a 3 inch layer by a third.
How the fill dirt calculator works
Volume = area × depth. Each area is worked out from its shape (length × width, π × radius², or ½ × base × height), converted to square feet, multiplied by the depth in feet, and added up. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards.The extra percentage is then added, and bag counts are rounded up to whole bags. See how we calculate for every figure we use.