Dirt & Soil Calculator
How much dirt do you need? Add each area, choose the depth, and get cubic yards, weight, bags, truckloads and an optional cost estimate. Works in feet, yards or meters.
How the calculation works
Volume is area times depth: cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12, and cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Circles use π × (diameter ÷ 2)², triangles ½ × base × height, and a ring subtracts the inner circle from the outer one. Several areas are added together, then the extra percentage for settling is applied.
Example: a 30 × 12 ft low spot to be raised 6 inches is 360 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 180 cu ft = 6.67 cu yd. With 15% extra for settling, order about 7.7 cubic yards, roughly 8.4–10.7 tons of fill dirt.
Fill dirt, topsoil or a soil mix?
Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter. It is cheap, compacts well and is used to raise grade, fill holes, backfill walls and build up areas under paths or slabs. Topsoil is the dark, organic upper layer that grass and plants grow in; it costs more and should not be used for deep structural fill because it settles as the organic matter breaks down. A common approach is fill dirt for the bulk of the depth and 4–6 inches of topsoil on top where anything will grow (see the topsoil calculator). Garden or soil mixes blend topsoil with compost for beds.
Leveling, raising grade and filling holes
For uneven ground, measure the depth you need in several spots and use the average. On a slope, split the area into strips and add each strip as its own area. Spread deep fill in layers of a few inches and compact each layer (a plate compactor, or at least water and a roller); a single thick, loose layer keeps settling for months. That settling is why the calculator adds 15% by default for fill dirt; raise it for deep fills.
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
Loose fill dirt from a supplier usually weighs about 1.1–1.4 US tons per cubic yard, more when wet. Soil in the ground is denser than loose soil in a pile: the USDA puts ideal bulk density of undisturbed soil at roughly 1.1–1.6 g/cm³ depending on texture, which is about 0.9–1.35 US tons per cubic yard of dry soil before water is added. Always use the supplier's own figure when you order by the ton.
Truckloads
A typical tandem dump truck carries around 10–14 cubic yards of dirt, a single-axle truck much less, and a full-size pickup about 1–2 yards depending on the material's weight. Truck sizes vary by supplier, so enter the capacity they quote in the calculator to get the number of loads.
How much does one cubic yard cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so at 1 inch deep it covers 324 sq ft. Divide 324 by the depth in inches:
| Depth | 1 cu yd of dirt covers |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
Cubic yards to tons
Fill dirt typically weighs 1.1–1.4 US tons per cubic yard, depending on the product and how wet it is. If your supplier sells by the ton, ask for their weight per yard and enter it in the calculator.
| Volume | Approx. weight (US tons) |
|---|---|
| 1 cu yd | 1.1 – 1.4 |
| 2 cu yd | 2.2 – 2.8 |
| 5 cu yd | 5.5 – 7.0 |
| 10 cu yd | 11.0 – 14.0 |
Common questions
How much dirt do I need to fill a 10 × 10 area 6 inches deep?
100 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 50 cu ft, which is 1.85 cubic yards. With 15% extra for settling, order about 2.1 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of dirt?
At a typical 1.1–1.4 tons per yard, one ton of fill dirt is roughly 0.7–0.9 cubic yards.
Is fill dirt cheaper than topsoil?
Usually yes: fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter, while topsoil is screened and sold for growing. Use fill for bulk and topsoil only for the top few inches.
How do I measure an irregular area?
Break it into rectangles, circles and triangles and add each one as a separate area, or enter the total square footage with the “I know the area” shape.
Why add extra dirt?
Loose soil settles and compacts after it is spread, watered and walked on. The default 15% covers typical settling; deep or heavily compacted fills need more.
Sources
Other calculators
Last updated 2026-09-19.