Fill Dirt Calculator
Estimate fill dirt by volume and weight.
Enter the area and depth you need to fill to get the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet plus an approximate weight in tons. Use this for raising low spots, backfilling, and grading.
How it works
Volume is area × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 for cubic yards. Compacted fill dirt weighs roughly 1.2 tons per cubic yard. Fill settles, so order extra and compact in lifts when raising grade significantly.
Worked example
Filling a 15 ft × 12 ft low spot to an average depth of 6 inches: area 180 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 90 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 3.33 cubic yards. Fill dirt weighs roughly 1.2–1.3 tons per yard dry, so that's about 4 tons. Because settled fill compacts, order around 20% extra if the area will be compacted and load-bearing.
What changes your estimate
- Fill vs. topsoil. Fill dirt is cheap subsoil for building up grade and volume; topsoil is the screened, organic layer for planting. Don't pay topsoil prices to fill a hole.
- Compaction. Loose fill settles 10–20%. For anything structural, place and compact in 6-inch lifts and order extra to account for the shrinkage.
- Moisture and weight. Wet fill weighs noticeably more per yard than dry, which matters when a supplier prices by the ton.
- Average the depth. For an uneven hole, measure depth at several points and average them rather than using the deepest spot.
Frequently asked questions
How much fill dirt do I need?
Multiply area by depth in feet and divide by 27. A 20×10 ft area at 4 inches deep needs about 2.47 cubic yards.
How much does fill dirt weigh per yard?
Roughly 1.2 tons per cubic yard compacted, varying with moisture and clay content.
Should I order extra fill dirt?
Yes — fill settles and compacts, so add 10–20% when raising grade and compact it in layers.
Is this calculator free and private?
Yes. Every CubicCabin calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter are never uploaded or stored. There's no sign-up, no limits, and it keeps working even if you lose connection after the page loads.