Fill Dirt Calculator
Cubic yards of fill for raising grade, filling a hole or backfilling. Enter the average depth across the area — for a sloped low spot, half the deepest point is a fair average. Fill settles hard, so the default allowance is 20%.
Order 14.0 yd³ — fill is sold by the whole yard or the truckload; ask for a full-load price.
- Area
- 600 ft²
- Volume (300.0 ft³)
- 11.11 yd³
- Weight @ 1.30 t/yd³
- ≈ 14.4 tons
- Waste / settling 20%
- + 2.22 yd³
- Order quantity
- 13.33 yd³
- Truckloads
- 2 × tri-axle dump (≈12 yd³)
- Metric
- 10.19 m³
- 40 lb bag (0.75 ft³)
- 480 bags
- Materials + delivery$8–$25 / yd³ · Sep 2026
- $212 – $450
- Installed (with labor)typ. $643
- $412 – $983
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
What will this fill dirt job cost?
See the installed price range for these quantities and get up to 3 quotes from local contractors. Free, no obligation.
Common area sizes, answered
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 10×10 Area?100 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 10×20 Area?200 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 20×20 Area?400 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 20×30 Area?600 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 20×40 Area?800 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 30×30 Area?900 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 30×40 Area?1200 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 40×40 Area?1600 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 40×50 Area?2000 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 50×50 Area?2500 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 50×100 Area?5000 ft²
- How Much Fill Dirt for a 100×100 Area?10000 ft²
How to calculate fill dirt by hand
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Average depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.20 settling
Worked example
- Area: 30 ft × 20 ft = 600 ft².
- Volume: 600 ft² × (6 in ÷ 12) = 300 ft³ = 11.1 yd³.
- Settling 20%: 11.1 × 1.20 = 13.3 yd³ → order 14 yd³.
- Trucks: 14 ÷ 12 = 2 tri-axle loads (or ask for one 14-yard load).
- 1 yd³ of fill at 6″
- ≈ 54 ft²
- 1 yd³ of fill at 12″
- ≈ 27 ft²
- 1 yd³ fill dirt
- ≈ 2,400–2,800 lb
- Tri-axle dump
- 10–14 yd³
Questions crews ask
How much fill dirt do I need?
Area in square feet × average depth in inches ÷ 324 gives cubic yards; add 15–25% because fill settles as it is compacted and rained on. A 30 × 20 ft area raised 6″ needs 11 yards net, about 13–14 delivered.
How much does a truckload of fill dirt hold?
A single-axle dump holds 5–7 yd³, a tandem 10 yd³ and a tri-axle 12–14 yd³. Most suppliers price per load rather than per yard, so a full truck is the cheapest way to buy it.
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Fill is subsoil — low in organic matter, so it compacts and stays put. Topsoil is the living top layer for growing. Fill goes underneath; finish with 4–6″ of topsoil if you are seeding or sodding.
How much does fill dirt settle?
15–25% for loose-dumped fill, less if you compact each 6–8″ lift with a plate compactor or roller. Order 20% extra and mound it slightly; a low spot that was filled level will be a low spot again next spring.
How much does a cubic yard of fill dirt weigh?
About 2,400–2,800 lb (1.2–1.4 tons) depending on moisture and clay content. Wet clay fill can exceed 3,000 lb. A half-ton pickup should not carry more than half a yard.