Fill Dirt Calculator
Fill dirt is bulk subsoil for raising grade, backfilling, and leveling. Enter the area and depth for the cubic yards — and, using its density, the tons — to order.
Fill dirt
3.7cu yd
- Fill dirt
- 4.63 tons
- Volume
- 100 cu ft
How it’s calculated
Volume = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) cubic feet, ÷ 27 for cubic yards. Tons = cubic yards × density. Fill dirt's density swings a lot with moisture and clay content (roughly 1.0–1.4 ton/cu yd), so it's an editable input — confirm your supplier's figure for an accurate ton order.
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft area (200 sq ft) filled 6 in deep, at 1.25 ton/cu yd: 200 × 6 ÷ 12 = 100 cu ft = 3.70 cu yd × 1.25 ≈ 4.63 tons.
FAQs
- What's the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
- Fill dirt is subsoil with little or no organic matter — used to raise grade, backfill, and build a stable base, because it compacts well and doesn't settle or decompose. Topsoil is the organic-rich top layer for growing. Don't plant in fill dirt, and don't use topsoil as structural fill.
- Should I order extra for compaction?
- Yes — fill is delivered loose but should be placed and compacted in lifts (a few inches at a time), and it loses volume as it's tamped and settles. Order extra (often ~20–30%, more for deep fills), and never dump a deep fill all at once or it will keep settling.
- Why does the density vary so much?
- Soil weight depends heavily on moisture and how much clay versus sand it contains — wet clay is far heavier than dry sandy fill. That's why we keep density as an input rather than guessing one number; use your supplier's figure if you're buying by the ton.
Sources
- Volume = L × W × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27 (geometry). Tons = cu yd × density; density (~1.0–1.4 ton/cu yd, moisture/clay-dependent) is an editable, supplier-confirmed material property — not baked in.