How this fill dirt calculator works
Any fill calculator is volume math, but dirt adds one twist the generic tools skip: compacted fill occupies less space than the loose yards on the truck, so you order more than the hole measures:
order = hole × (1 + compaction%) · 15% typical, up to the ¼ yd³
Worked example: fill for a 20 × 10 low spot
200 ft² brought up 6 in is 100 ft³ — 3.7 yd³ as measured. Add 15% for compaction and round to the quarter yard: order 4.5 yd³, about 4.95 tons on one tandem load, roughly $113 at $25 a yard.
How many yards of fill dirt per square foot?
| Area × depth | Order | ≈ Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² @ 6″ | 2.25 yd³ | 2.48 |
| 200 ft² @ 6″ | 4.5 yd³ | 4.95 |
| 500 ft² @ 6″ | 10.75 yd³ | 11.83 |
| 1,000 ft² @ 4″ | 14.25 yd³ | 15.68 |
| 1,000 ft² @ 12″ | 42.75 yd³ | 47.03 |
| Material | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Fill dirt | Grades, holes, under slabs |
| Topsoil | Top 4–6″ where plants grow |
| Screened fill | Final grading, fewer rocks |
| Structural fill | Engineered lifts, spec jobs |
Fill dirt FAQ
How much fill dirt do I need?
Multiply area by depth in feet, divide by 27, then add compaction: a 20 × 10 ft area filled 6 in deep measures 3.7 yd³, and with 15% compaction the order is 4.5 cubic yards — about 4.95 tons, one truck load, roughly $113 at $25 a yard.
How many tons is a yard of fill dirt?
About 1.1 tons — fill dirt runs roughly 2,200 lb per cubic yard as an estimating average. Wet clay pushes past 2,500 lb and dry sandy fill drops under 2,000, which is why suppliers quote dirt by the yard, not the ton.
Why order more dirt than the hole measures?
Because compacted dirt takes up less space than loose dirt — it settles 10–25% as it packs. Fill placed loose and left to settle on its own drops for years; fill compacted in 6–8 in lifts settles now, while you still have dirt on site to top it up.
How much does fill dirt cost?
Commonly $15–40 per cubic yard delivered in 2026, and sometimes near-free from excavation contractors who need somewhere to put spoil — quality varies exactly as much as the price. The default job is about $113 at the editable $25 default.
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Fill dirt is subsoil — mineral, low-organic, stable under load, right for grades, holes and under slabs. Topsoil is the organic growing layer: it feeds lawns but keeps decomposing and settling, so it never goes under anything structural. Fill deep, then cap with 4–6 in of topsoil where things must grow.
How many yards of dirt fit in a dump truck?
A tandem-axle dump truck hauls about 10–14 cubic yards of dirt; a single-axle runs 5–6. The calculator counts loads at 10 yd³ so the truck math stays conservative — big regrades go from “a few trips” to “a convoy” fast.
Embed this fill dirt calculator on your site
Run the fill dirt calculator on your own site, free. Paste the snippet where you want it; the visible credit link is the only condition.