Fill Dirt Calculator

Enter your area dimensions and fill depth to instantly calculate fill dirt volume in cubic yards, weight in tons, and total material cost estimate.

Free to use No sign-up required Includes compaction factor Imperial & metric supported

✓ Volume in cubic yards & tons ✓ Compaction factor included ✓ Cost estimator included ✓ Last verified May 2026

Reviewed by the AllConcreteCalculator.com editorial team — compaction factors and density values cross-checked against ASTM D698 and standard earthwork practice, May 2026.

Enter Your Fill Area Dimensions

Area Length

Longest dimension of the area to be filled. Please enter a valid length greater than 0.

Area Width

Shorter dimension of the fill area. Please enter a valid width greater than 0.

Fill Depth

How deep the fill will be after compaction. Common depths: 4–6 in (yard grading), 12–24 in (foundation backfill). Please enter a valid fill depth greater than 0.

Compaction Factor (%)

Loose fill dirt compacts 10–25% after settling. Use 20% for general fill, 10% for screened topsoil, 25–30% for heavily compacted subgrade.

Price per Cubic Yard (optional)

Leave blank to skip cost estimate. US average: $10–$30/yd³ for fill dirt delivered. Screened topsoil: $25–$50/yd³.

Results appear instantly. No sign-up required.

Your Fill Dirt Estimate

Fill Dirt Volume (with compaction factor)

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Cubic Yards (yd³)

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Cubic Feet (ft³)

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Cubic Meters (m³)

Estimated Weight

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Short Tons (US)

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Metric Tonnes

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Pounds (lbs)

— Area (sq ft)

— Area (m²)

— Fill Depth

— Compaction Factor

Estimated Material Cost

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Fill dirt material cost only. Add delivery ($150–$400 per truckload), grading labor ($50–$100/hr), and compaction equipment rental for a full project budget.

Step 1: Convert all dimensions to feet
Step 2: Compacted volume (ft³) = Length × Width × Depth (all in feet)
Step 3: Loose volume needed = Compacted ft³ × (1 + compaction% ÷ 100)
Step 4: Cubic yards = Loose ft³ ÷ 27
Step 5: Weight (tons) = Cubic yards × 1.35 tons/yd³ (standard fill dirt density)

Fill dirt density used: ~1.35 US tons/yd³ (2,700 lb/yd³) — typical for sandy clay or mixed fill.
Screened topsoil density is slightly lower (~1.1 tons/yd³). Dense clay can reach 1.6 tons/yd³.

How to Use This Fill Dirt Calculator

Measure the area to be filled. Walk the site with a tape measure and record the length and width in feet. For irregular shapes, divide the area into rectangles and run this calculator separately for each section, then add the results. If you have survey drawings, use those dimensions — field measurements on uneven ground can be off by 5–10%.
Determine your required fill depth. This is the depth of fill needed after settling and compaction — not the depth of loose material you'll dump. If you're raising a yard by 6 inches, enter 6 inches here. The compaction factor (next field) accounts for the extra material required above that target depth.
Set the compaction factor. The default 20% works for most general fill projects. Use 10–15% for screened topsoil or lightly compacted fill. Use 25–30% for structural backfill around foundations, where heavy plate compactors are used. This factor tells you how much extra loose material to order so you end up with the right depth after compaction.
Use the cubic yard figure when ordering. Most fill dirt suppliers quote and deliver by the cubic yard (or by the truckload, which is typically 10–14 cubic yards). The tonnage figures are useful if your supplier quotes by weight — just confirm their density assumption matches standard fill dirt (~1.35 tons/yd³). Give the exact cubic yard number to your supplier, not the raw volume.

⚠ Pro Tip: Always order 5–10% more fill than your calculation shows. Delivery trucks are loaded by volume, not weighed precisely, and fill dirt compacts unpredictably on uneven subgrades. Running short and reordering a partial truckload costs far more per yard than having a small amount left over.

Fill Dirt Volume Formula

The calculation converts your area and fill depth to a compacted volume, then scales up by the compaction factor to determine how much loose material you need to order. Here's the process step by step:

Step	Formula	Example (20 × 15 ft, 6 in depth, 20% compaction)
1. Convert depth to feet	inches ÷ 12	6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
2. Compacted volume	L × W × D (ft)	20 × 15 × 0.5 = 150 ft³
3. Apply compaction factor	Volume × (1 + factor ÷ 100)	150 × 1.20 = 180 ft³
4. Convert to cubic yards	ft³ ÷ 27	180 ÷ 27 = 6.67 yd³
5. Estimate weight	yd³ × 1.35 tons/yd³	6.67 × 1.35 = 9.0 tons

Common Fill Dirt Project Reference Table

Loose cubic yards needed (20% compaction factor applied). Order these quantities from your supplier.
Area Size	Fill Depth	Cubic Yards (loose)	Est. Weight (tons)	Typical Use
10 × 10 ft	4 in	1.2 yd³	1.6 tons	Small low spot repair
20 × 20 ft	4 in	5.0 yd³	6.7 tons	Patio or shed pad leveling
20 × 20 ft	6 in	7.4 yd³	10.0 tons	Yard re-grading
30 × 40 ft	6 in	22.2 yd³	30.0 tons	Large yard grading
20 × 30 ft	12 in	26.7 yd³	36.0 tons	Foundation backfill (shallow)
20 × 40 ft	24 in	71.1 yd³	96.0 tons	Major excavation backfill
50 × 100 ft	6 in	92.6 yd³	125.0 tons	Commercial lot fill

Calculated at 20% compaction factor and 1.35 tons/yd³ density. Your actual quantities will vary with soil type and compaction equipment.

How Much Fill Depth Do I Actually Need?

Fill depth is the most commonly underestimated variable on residential and commercial grading projects. The right depth depends on the purpose of the fill — drainage correction, structural support, surface leveling, or backfill. Use this guide to determine your target compacted depth before running the calculator.

Recommended fill depth by application type — compacted in-place depth, not loose dump depth.
Application	Compacted Depth	Compaction Factor	Key Notes
Lawn leveling / low spot repair	2–4 inches	10–15%	Use screened topsoil, not raw fill dirt
Surface drainage correction	4–8 inches	15–20%	Slope away from structure at ≥2% grade
Shed or small structure pad	6–12 inches	20%	Compact in 4–6 in lifts; crushed stone base preferred
Foundation backfill (non-structural)	12–24 inches	20–25%	Fill and compact in 6 in lifts only; do not fill against uncured concrete
Structural backfill (load-bearing)	As engineered	25–30%	Requires engineer specification and compaction testing
Utility trench backfill	Full trench depth	25–30%	Compact to 95% Proctor density per ASTM D698
Parking lot or road subgrade	12–24 inches	25–30%	Select fill required; tested proctor required for commercial

Never place fill in one deep lift and walk away. Fill placed in lifts greater than 8–12 inches without intermediate compaction will settle unevenly for years. A plate compactor rented for half a day costs $60–$100 and can save thousands in future repairs.

Common Mistakes When Estimating Fill Dirt

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Not accounting for compaction. Ordering only the compacted volume you need is the single most common fill dirt mistake. Loose fill dirt compacts 15–25% depending on soil type. If you need 10 cubic yards of compacted fill, you need to order 12–13 cubic yards of loose material. Always apply a compaction factor — the calculator defaults to 20%, which is appropriate for most general fill.
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Using fill dirt where topsoil is needed. Fill dirt is subsoil — it contains no organic matter and will not support plant growth. If you're raising a lawn, garden bed, or planting area, the top 4–6 inches should be screened topsoil, not fill dirt. Fill dirt is for structural support beneath the topsoil, not the growing layer itself.
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Ignoring drainage when re-grading. Adding fill dirt without planning the final grade slope is a recipe for water problems. A properly graded yard slopes away from the house at a minimum of 1 inch per foot (roughly 2% grade) for the first 6–10 feet. Adding fill without correcting the slope often makes drainage worse, not better.
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Ordering by truckload without knowing the truck's yield. Fill dirt trucks vary widely: a standard dump truck holds 10–14 cubic yards, a tandem holds 12–16 cubic yards, and a semi-trailer can carry 18–22 cubic yards. Always confirm the exact cubic yard capacity of your supplier's trucks before calculating how many loads to order — "one truck" is not a unit of measure.
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Placing fill against foundation walls too soon. Backfilling against a poured concrete foundation wall requires the concrete to reach full cure strength — typically 28 days at standard temperatures. Backfilling too early can push walls inward before the slab braces them from the inside. This is a common cause of bowed basement walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply your area's length by width by fill depth — all in feet — to get the compacted cubic feet needed. Divide by 27 to get compacted cubic yards. Then multiply by 1.20 (for a 20% compaction factor) to get the loose cubic yards to order. For example, a 20 ft × 15 ft area needing 6 inches of fill = 20 × 15 × 0.5 = 150 compacted ft³ = 5.56 compacted yd³. Multiply by 1.20 = 6.67 yd³ to order. The calculator above does all of this automatically.
Fill dirt is subsoil — the layer of earth beneath the topsoil that contains little to no organic matter. It is used for structural fill: raising grades, backfilling foundations, filling excavations, and building up elevation. It is dense, inorganic, and inexpensive. Topsoil is the nutrient-rich upper layer that supports plant growth. It contains organic matter, microorganisms, and nutrients that make it ideal for lawns and gardens — but unsuitable for structural fill because it compresses and settles under load. A typical re-grading project uses fill dirt to build up the subgrade elevation, then covers the top 4–6 inches with topsoil for the growing surface.
Standard fill dirt weighs approximately 1.35 US tons (2,700 pounds) per cubic yard. This is the commonly accepted value for sandy clay or mixed subsoil fill used in residential and light commercial grading. Heavy clay soils can reach 1.5–1.6 tons/yd³, while lighter sandy fill can run as low as 1.1 tons/yd³. If your supplier quotes by weight (tons), ask for their assumed density so you can cross-check against a cubic yard price.
Use 15–20% for general residential fill and yard grading where a hand tamper or plate compactor is used. Use 10–12% for screened topsoil that will be lightly compacted. Use 25–30% for structural backfill around foundations, retaining walls, or utility trenches where mechanical compaction equipment is used to achieve 95% Proctor density. The 20% default in this calculator is appropriate for the most common residential grading projects.
A standard single-axle dump truck holds 10–12 cubic yards of fill dirt. A tandem-axle dump truck holds 12–16 cubic yards. A tri-axle or semi-trailer can hold 18–22 cubic yards. Always confirm the exact capacity with your supplier — truckload capacity varies by vehicle configuration and local weight limits. Most residential fill dirt deliveries in suburban areas use standard 10–14 yard trucks due to street access limitations.
Fill dirt prices vary significantly by region and source. Raw, unscreened fill dirt is often $5–$15 per cubic yard if you can pick it up yourself. Delivered fill dirt typically runs $15–$30 per cubic yard including delivery, depending on distance and quantity. Screened or select fill is $20–$40/yd³. Screened topsoil runs $25–$50/yd³ delivered. Delivery charges are usually $100–$350 per truckload on top of the material cost. Buying in bulk (multiple truckloads) often reduces the per-yard cost significantly. Always get at least two quotes.
Yes, but with important restrictions. Never backfill against a poured concrete foundation until it has cured for at least 28 days and the first-floor framing is in place to brace the wall. Fill should be compacted in 6-inch lifts maximum — never dumped in bulk and left to settle. Use clean granular fill (sandy soil or select fill) against foundation walls for better drainage, and keep clay-heavy fill away from basement walls where water retention could increase lateral pressure. If you have a waterproofing membrane on the wall, use clean granular fill to avoid puncturing it with rocks.
The standard recommendation from the International Residential Code (IRC) is a minimum slope of 6 inches drop over the first 10 feet away from the foundation — roughly a 5% grade. In practice, most contractors aim for 1 inch of drop per foot for the first 6 feet near the house. Use fill dirt to build up the elevation closest to the foundation, tapering out to existing grade. After compaction, the fill should slope consistently away from all sides of the house. A 4-foot level and a tape measure can check your finished grade before you seed or sod.
It depends on the quantity and your jurisdiction. Most municipalities do not require a permit for minor grading under 12 inches of fill on a residential lot. However, many jurisdictions require a grading or land disturbance permit if you are importing more than 50–100 cubic yards, changing drainage patterns significantly, working near wetlands or waterways, or on a commercially zoned property. Some areas have strict fill certification requirements — imported fill dirt must have a clean materials certification to prevent soil contamination. Always check with your local building department before importing large quantities of fill.