How Much Fill Dirt for a 40×40 Area?
A 40 × 40 ft area (1,600 ft²) at 6″ deep needs 35.6 yd³ of fill dirt — 29.63 yd³ net plus 20% for settling. Order 36.0 yd³ — fill is sold by the whole yard or the truckload; ask for a full-load price.
40×40 at other depths
| Depth | Volume | Order (yd³) | 40 lb bag (0.75 ft³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3″ | 14.81 yd³ | 17.8 yd³ | 640 |
| 6″ (this page) | 29.63 yd³ | 35.6 yd³ | 1,280 |
| 12″ | 59.26 yd³ | 71.1 yd³ | 2,560 |
| 24″ | 118.52 yd³ | 142.2 yd³ | 5,120 |
Other area sizes
Order 36.0 yd³ — fill is sold by the whole yard or the truckload; ask for a full-load price.
- Area
- 1,600 ft²
- Volume (800.0 ft³)
- 29.63 yd³
- Weight @ 1.30 t/yd³
- ≈ 38.5 tons
- Waste / settling 20%
- + 5.93 yd³
- Order quantity
- 35.56 yd³
- Truckloads
- 3 × tri-axle dump (≈12 yd³)
- Metric
- 27.18 m³
- 40 lb bag (0.75 ft³)
- 1,280 bags
- Materials + delivery$8–$25 / yd³ · Sep 2026
- $388 – $1,000
- Installed (with labor)typ. $1,529
- $921 – $2,422
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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.
Different size or depth?
Open the full fill dirt calculator to change every input, pick a material and see truckloads.
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.