Fill Dirt Calculator

Calculate how many cubic yards of fill dirt to order for grading or a pad, with a compaction allowance added, plus the weight in tons and the number of dump truck loads.

By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.

Quick answer: To find how much fill dirt you need, multiply length by width by depth in feet and divide by 27 for the compacted cubic yards, then add 10 to 20 percent because loose fill shrinks when compacted. A 30 x 20 ft area filled 12 in deep is 22.22 cubic yards in place; with a 15% allowance order 25.56 cubic yards, about 30.7 tons or 3 loads in a 10 yard truck.

Your measurements

Cross-section: volume is the area covered times the depth of the layer.

LengthftWidthftAverage depthinAverage the deepest and shallowest points if the fill tapers. Measure from firm subsoil, not from the sod you will strip off.Compaction allowance%Sandy or gravelly fill loses 10 to 15% when compacted, clay 15 to 25%. Fill that is only spread, never compacted, keeps settling for years; use 20% or more.Truck sizeAsk the pit which truck comes. A loaded tri-axle weighs 70,000 lb or more and needs about 12 ft of width and 14 ft of overhead clearance to raise the bed.Price per cubic yard (optional)$/cu ydUnscreened fill is typically $10 to $25 per yard at the pit in 2026 US retail, screened a few dollars more; delivery is typically $75 to $150 per load.

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Fill dirt to order25.56 cu ydAll results

Results

Fill dirt to order: 25.56 cu yd; Loose volume including 15% for compaction
Compacted volume in place: 22.22 cu yd; 600 sq ft filled 12 in deep in 2 lifts of 8 in or less
Weight: 30.7 tons; At about 1.2 tons per cubic yard; wet clay runs 1.5 or more
Truckloads: 3 loads; 10 cu yd per truck; most pits bill a partial last load at the full load rate, and each load dumps in one pile

Fill Dirt formula

Compacted cubic yards = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (in) / 12 / 27
Loose cubic yards to order = Compacted cubic yards x (1 + compaction %)
Tons = Loose cubic yards x 1.2
Truckloads = Loose cubic yards / truck capacity, rounded up

Worked example

Raising a 40 x 25 ft side yard by 18 in with a 20% allowance and 14 yard trucks: 40 x 25 = 1,000 sq ft. 1,000 x (18 / 12) = 1,500 cubic feet, or 1,500 / 27 = 55.56 cubic yards compacted. Multiply by 1.2 for the loose volume: 55.56 x 1.2 = 66.67 cubic yards to order.

Weight is 66.67 x 1.2 = 80 tons. At 14 cubic yards per truck, 66.67 / 14 = 4.76, so 5 truckloads. At $15 per yard the material is $1,000 before delivery.

Quick reference

Fill dirt to order per 1,000 sq ft by depth (15% compaction allowance)
Depth	Compacted cu yd	Order cu yd	Tons	10 yd loads
6 in	18.5	21.3	25.6	3
12 in	37.0	42.6	51.1	5
18 in	55.6	63.9	76.7	7
24 in	74.1	85.2	102.2	9
36 in	111.1	127.8	153.3	13

Fill dirt, topsoil and screened fill

Fill dirt is subsoil dug from below the topsoil layer. It has little organic matter, which is what you want under a slab, a driveway or a raised grade. Nothing in it rots, so it does not keep settling the way topsoil does. Sandy or gravelly fill compacts in a pass or two with a plate and drains. Clay fill shrinks and swells with moisture, turns to soup when wet and needs a rammer. Under a slab or pad, ask for select or structural fill, the granular kind. Free fill from a nearby excavation is unscreened, comes when the driver has a load and lands in one pile.

Unscreened fill can include rocks, roots and chunks of clay. Screened fill has been run through a 1 or 2 in screen and costs a few dollars more per yard. It is worth it wherever you will rake and finish the surface. If you are going to grow grass, cap the fill with 4 to 6 in of topsoil, since fill dirt itself is poor soil for roots.

Placing and compacting fill

Strip sod and any soft organic soil first so the fill sits on firm subsoil. Spread it in lifts no more than 6 to 8 in thick, 4 to 6 in for clay, and compact each lift before the next. A plate compactor works on sand and gravel, a jumping jack rammer on clay, and a rented ride-on roller on big areas. Fill compacts best damp enough to hold a ball in your fist with no water on your hand; wet dry loads and let saturated ones dry a day.

Keep the finished grade sloping away from the foundation at least 6 in over the first 10 ft (IRC R401.3), and keep fill 6 in below siding (R317.1). Fill that will carry a footing, slab, pool or retaining wall has to be engineered. Under a slab the IRC caps fill at 8 in for earth and 24 in for clean sand or gravel unless an engineer approves more (R506.2.1). Footings go on undisturbed soil or engineered fill (R403.1.4). The usual spec is 95 percent Standard Proctor, checked with a density test per lift.

What this calculator leaves out

The result is loose fill only. Not included: the 4 to 6 in topsoil cap, the delivery fee per load, the compactor rental, or hauling off the stripped sod. Spreading takes a skid steer, typically $250 to $400 a day in 2026. Cities that adopt IBC Appendix J require a grading permit for fill over 50 cubic yards or on a slope. Runoff you send onto a neighbor is your liability.

Mistakes that cost money

One 12 in lift instead of two 6 in lifts: the plate never reaches the bottom, and the pad settles for years.
A plate compactor on clay fill does nothing; clay needs a jumping jack rammer in 4 to 6 in lifts, near optimum moisture.
Fill dumped over sod or topsoil: the organics rot and the fill drops 2 to 3 in within two years.
A 10 yard load dumps in one pile about 6 ft high; without a skid steer, spreading costs more than the dirt.
Free jobsite fill arrives unscreened with concrete, brick and roots, on the driver's schedule; you pay to sort and haul the junk.
Filling to the siding: IRC R317.1 wants 6 in of clearance, and wet fill against siding rots the sheathing and bridges termites.

Key facts

Fill dirt weighs about 2,000 to 2,400 lb per cubic yard, or roughly 1.2 tons, depending on moisture and clay content.
Loose fill loses 10 to 20 percent of its volume when compacted, so a 10 yard load ends up at 8 to 9 yards in place.
Fill should be placed and compacted in lifts of 6 to 8 in; a single deep lift never compacts fully and keeps settling for years.
A single-axle dump truck carries about 10 cubic yards, a tandem 12 to 14, and a tri-axle 16 to 20.
Grade fill so the finished surface slopes away from the house at least 6 in over the first 10 ft (IRC R401.3), and keep it 6 in below siding (R317.1).

Frequently asked questions

Can I just dump the fill and spread it without compacting?

You can, but a 12 in lift that is only spread settles 2 to 3 in over the next two or three years, and anything on it cracks or tilts. Spread in 6 to 8 in lifts, run a plate compactor (a jumping jack on clay) over each one, and grade the last lift to a slight crown.

How much does a yard of fill dirt weigh?

About 2,400 lb, or 1.2 tons, though wet clay fill can weigh close to 3,000 lb per yard.

How many yards of fill dirt fit in a dump truck?

About 10 yards in a single-axle truck, 12 to 14 in a tandem and up to 20 in a tri-axle. Ask the supplier which truck they will send so you can plan the number of loads.

What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?

Fill dirt is subsoil with almost no organic matter, used to raise grade or fill holes because it stays put. Topsoil is the nutrient-rich top layer used for lawns and gardens and it settles as the organic matter breaks down.

Sources and references

Chapter 4 Foundations, 2021 IRC (R401.3 grade fall of 6 in within the first 10 ft) (ICC)
Lawn Establishment (grading, settled topsoil depth over fill) (Penn State Extension)
Modifying Soil for Plant Growth around Your Home (fill subsoil, compaction and topsoil) (NC State Extension)

Next steps for this project

The usual order for a landscaping & outdoor project. See all landscaping & outdoor calculators.

Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.