Fill Dirt Calculator
A fill dirt calculator multiplies area by depth, divides by 27, then applies 1.1 tons per cubic yard: a 20 × 10 ft spot filled 6 in deep needs 4.07 tons.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
3.70 yd³ · 4.1 tons
50 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
6 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
How much fill dirt do you need?
A fill dirt calculator turns the size of a hole or low spot into tons. Find the volume in cubic yards, then multiply by 1.1 tons per cubic yard. You type in length and width in feet and depth in inches, and the tool returns tons and a cost at the price per ton you enter.
The 1.1 figure is a planning weight for loose fill. Dirt that is wet or full of clay weighs more, so a supplier’s number beats mine.
The formula in plain words
Think of the area as a box you are about to fill.
- Multiply length by width to get square feet.
- Divide the depth in inches by 12, then multiply by the square feet. That gives cubic feet.
- Divide cubic feet by 27, because a cubic yard is 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft.
- Multiply cubic yards by 1.1 to get tons.
- Multiply tons by your price per ton for the cost.
There is no waste toggle on this page. Whatever you type in is what comes out, so any settling allowance is up to you.
Worked example: a low spot beside the garage
A patch of yard measures 20 ft by 10 ft and needs to come up 6 inches. The price is $25 per ton.
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft
- Volume: 200 × 0.5 ft = 100 cubic feet
- Cubic yards: 100 ÷ 27 = 3.704
- Tons: 3.704 × 1.1 = 4.07 tons
- Cost: 4.07 × $25 = $101.85
That is a small delivery. Many yards set a minimum load, so the real bill may be higher than the math.
Worked example: raising a building pad
A pad measures 40 ft by 30 ft and needs 12 inches of fill.
- Area: 40 × 30 = 1,200 sq ft
- Volume: 1,200 × 1 ft = 1,200 cubic feet
- Cubic yards: 1,200 ÷ 27 = 44.44
- Tons: 44.44 × 1.1 = 48.89 tons
- Cost: 48.89 × $25 = $1,222.22
Nearly 49 tons arrives over several truckloads, and a pad for a building is the kind of job where the compaction spec matters more than the quantity.
Fill needed per 1,000 square feet
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons at 1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 6.17 | 6.79 |
| 4 in | 12.35 | 13.58 |
| 6 in | 18.52 | 20.37 |
| 12 in | 37.04 | 40.74 |
Scale these up or down for your area. A 500 sq ft yard at 6 inches needs half of the 6 inch row, about 10.2 tons.
How to measure the area
Walk the low spot with a tape and a stake line. Set a string level across the edges at the finished height, then measure down to the ground at several points. Average those depths and use the average.
If the shape is irregular, split it into rectangles and run each one separately. Add the tons together at the end.
Remember that a hole being filled for a drain, tank, or footing may have sloped sides. Measure the top width of the hole, not the bottom, or you will undercount.
Common mistakes
- Typing depth in feet. The field wants inches, so 6 inches is 6, not 0.5.
- Forgetting that fill compacts. Loose dirt packs down, so a 6 inch lift can end up shorter than you planned if you roll it.
- Using fill dirt as the top layer. It rarely grows grass well. Put topsoil over it.
- Treating the number as an engineering spec. Anything that carries weight, such as a slab or driveway, needs the soil type and compaction set by a professional.
- Ignoring the delivery fee. Trucking can cost more than the dirt, so compare quotes by delivered price.
Related calculators
If you need the planting layer on top, use the topsoil calculator. For a plain volume with no weight, the cubic yard calculator does that, and the cubic yards to tons calculator converts a yard figure into tons for any material density you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of fill dirt?
This calculator uses 1.1 tons per cubic yard, which is about 2,200 lb. Wet dirt, clay-heavy dirt, and dirt with rock in it can run heavier, so ask the yard what their fill weighs before you compare quotes.
Does the result include extra for settling?
No. The page gives the net amount with no waste toggle. Fill compacts once it is rolled or rained on, so many people order some extra on top. How much depends on the soil and how tightly it will be packed, so ask your supplier or the engineer on the job.
Can I use fill dirt to grow grass?
Fill dirt is usually subsoil with little organic matter, so it makes a poor planting surface. Use it to build up grade, then cap it with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil before seeding or laying sod.
Can I put fill dirt under a slab or foundation?
Only if an engineer or the local building department signs off on the material and the compaction method. Structural fill is specified by type and tested in place, so treat this calculator as a quantity estimate and not a design.
What price per ton should I enter?
The $25 default is a placeholder. Fill prices vary a lot by region and delivery distance, and some yards give it away to avoid disposal costs. Replace it with a real quote that includes delivery.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.