ProjectFigure Exact material estimates for every home & DIY project.

Dirt Calculator

A dirt calculator works out how much fill dirt you need — in cubic yards and tons — from the area you're filling and the depth, and tells you how many dump-truck loads that is. It's for levelling, raising grade, backfilling and building up low spots.

Your measurements

Result

Dirt is bought by the yard and delivered by the ton, so this gives both. The catch most people miss is compaction: loose fill settles a lot, so you order more than the empty hole measures.

How it is calculated

Volume = area × depth, in cubic yards (÷ 27). Tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.3 (fill dirt density varies with moisture and clay). Truckloads assume ~10 yd³ per standard dump truck. Add 10-25% for compaction if the fill must be tamped to grade.

Steps

Enter the area to fill (length × width or total area).
Enter the fill depth.
Read the cubic yards and tons.
See how many ~10 yd³ truckloads that is.
Order extra — fill compacts 10-25% as it settles.

Worked example

A 20 × 15 ft area filled 6 in deep needs about 5.6 cubic yards of dirt — roughly 7.2 tons, or one dump-truck load.

Common questions

How much fill dirt do I need?

Area × depth ÷ 27 for cubic yards. A 300 sq ft area at 6 in is about 5.6 yards. Add extra for compaction.

How many tons is a yard of dirt?

Roughly 1.3 tons per cubic yard, varying with moisture and clay content — wet or clay-heavy dirt weighs more.

What's the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?

Fill dirt is subsoil for building up grade and structure; topsoil is the nutrient-rich layer for growing. Use fill below, topsoil on top.

How much does dirt settle?

Loose fill compacts 10-25% when tamped or over time, so order more than the void measures and compact in layers.