Calculate how much fill dirt you need in cubic yards and tons from area and depth, with typical soil densities, truckloads and optional cost.
Fill Dirt Formula
When you know the area and the fill depth, the volume of fill dirt is:
V = (A * D) / 27
When you know how much dirt you have and want the depth it will cover:
D = (V * 27) / A
To convert volume to weight:
W = V * Density
- V = volume of fill dirt in cubic yards
- A = area to be filled in square feet
- D = fill depth in feet (the calculator converts inches, yards, and meters to feet for you)
- W = weight of the dirt in US short tons
- Density = US short tons per cubic yard; the 1.25 fill-dirt preset is an illustrative assumption, not a guaranteed density
The calculator first turns every length you enter into feet, so you can mix units such as feet for length and inches for depth. It finds the area from the shape you pick (rectangle, circle, triangle, or a known area), multiplies by the depth to get cubic feet, then divides by 27 to report cubic yards. Choose an illustrative material-density assumption or enter supplier density. Optional settings add identical areas, an extra loose-volume allowance and overage, volume-based truckloads, and one material price basis plus a total delivery charge. Blank truck capacity omits load count; blank cost fields are omitted. A volume allowance is not a percentage compaction specification.
Fill Dirt Weight by Material
These retained example densities are planning assumptions only. Moisture, grading and source change density; ask your supplier for the specific material density and loose-to-compacted volume relationship. US short tons are 2,000 pounds.
| Material | Tons per cubic yard | Pounds per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt | 1.25 | 2,500 |
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 2,200 |
| Sand | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Gravel | 1.4 | 2,800 |
Cubic Yards Needed per 100 Square Feet
This shows how much volume a given depth adds over a 100 square foot area. Multiply by your area in hundreds of square feet to estimate quickly.
| Fill depth | Cubic feet (per 100 sq ft) | Cubic yards (per 100 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 8.33 | 0.31 |
| 3 inches | 25.0 | 0.93 |
| 6 inches | 50.0 | 1.85 |
| 12 inches | 100 | 3.70 |
Example Problems
Example 1. You want to fill a rectangular area that is 20 feet long and 10 feet wide to a depth of 6 inches with fill dirt.
- Area = 20 ft x 10 ft = 200 square feet
- Depth = 6 inches = 0.5 feet
- Volume = (200 x 0.5) / 27 = 3.70 cubic yards
- Weight = 3.70 x 1.25 = 4.63 tons
Example 2. You have 5 cubic yards of fill dirt and want to know how deep it will cover a 300 square foot area.
- Volume in cubic feet = 5 x 27 = 135 cubic feet
- Depth = 135 / 300 = 0.45 feet
- Depth in inches = 0.45 x 12 = 5.4 inches
FAQ
How much does a cubic yard of fill dirt weigh?
Weight depends on the material and moisture. The calculator initially assumes 1.25 US short tons (2,500 pounds) per cubic yard as an illustrative value. Use supplier density for your load; the preset is not a universal range or guarantee.
Should I order extra fill dirt for compaction?
Confirm this with your supplier or project geotechnical guidance. Loose and compacted volumes differ, and the factor depends on the soil and project conditions. Enter a supplier-supported additional loose-volume percentage if needed; do not treat a percent compaction specification or percent shrinkage as the same input. The reverse-depth calculation reports even depth before compaction.
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Fill dirt usually refers to subsoil, while topsoil contains organic material for planting. Suitability for structural fill depends on tested material properties and project specifications; this calculator does not determine that suitability.
