Dirt calculator
How many cubic yards and tons of fill dirt or topsoil to order, including extra for compacting.
Your material adds up to
4.07 cubic yards
- Weight
- 4.81 tons
- Pounds
- 9,615 lb
- Volume
- 110.0 cu ft
- Compacted volume
- 3.70 cu yd
- Estimated cost
Loose yards to order for 200 sq ft, at a typical 1.18 tons per loose cubic yard, including the extra you set.
How much dirt do I need?
Dirt is sold by the cubic yard, loose, the way it comes off the truck. The calculator finds the volume of your area, adds more if you'll compact it, then uses the weight of loose dirt to get tons.
- Area = length × width (or 3.1416 × radius² for a circle), in square feet
- Cubic feet = area × depth in feet (inches ÷ 12)
- Compaction: if the depth is measured after compacting, multiply by compacted weight ÷ loose weight, because loose dirt packs down
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, plus your extra percentage
- Tons = cubic yards × tons per loose cubic yard (1.18 for typical fill dirt, 0.81 for topsoil)
Worked example
A 20 ft × 10 ft low spot, 6 inches of fill dirt: 200 sq ft × 6 ÷ 12 = 100 cu ft. 100 ÷ 27 = 3.70 cubic yards, and 3.70 × 1.18 = 4.37 tons, before any extra.
If those 6 inches are measured after compacting, multiply by 3,520 ÷ 2,360 = 1.49: order about 5.52 cubic yards of loose fill.
How much a yard of dirt weighs
Typical estimating weights from the FHWA Federal Lands Project Development and Design Manual, Earthwork Design, Exhibit 5.1 A. Loose is a delivered yard; in place is undisturbed ground; compacted is fill packed in layers. The source says weights vary about 5%, and moisture changes them more, so use your supplier's figure with "Other" if they give one. No source defines "fill dirt", so it uses the "earth, loam" rows.
| Material | Loose, lb per yd³ | Loose, tons per yd³ | In place, tons per yd³ | Compacted, tons per yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt, damp | 2,360 | 1.18 | 1.69 | 1.76 |
| Fill dirt, dry | 2,070 | 1.03 | 1.51 | 1.76 |
| Fill dirt, wet | 2,940 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.76 |
| Topsoil | 1,620 | 0.81 | 1.22 | 1.64 |
How far a yard of dirt goes
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard | Cubic yards per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 | 0.62 |
| 3 in | 108 | 0.93 |
| 4 in | 81 | 1.23 |
| 6 in | 54 | 1.85 |
| 12 in | 27 | 3.70 |
Dirt questions
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
A loose cubic yard of damp fill dirt weighs about 2,360 pounds (1.18 tons). Dry, it's closer to 2,070 pounds; wet or muddy, about 2,940. Loose topsoil is lighter, about 1,620 pounds. The same dirt packed into the ground weighs more per yard: about 3,370 pounds for damp earth in place.
How big is a yard of dirt?
A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. Spread out, it covers about 81 square feet 4 inches deep, or 324 square feet 1 inch deep.
What's the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Topsoil is the dark top layer of soil, with the organic matter plants grow in. Use it for lawns, gardens and raised beds. Fill dirt is subsoil from deeper down, with little organic matter, so it packs down and stays put. Use it to raise grade, fill holes and backfill walls, then cap it with a few inches of topsoil where you want grass.
How much extra dirt do I need for compaction?
Loose dirt packs down when you tamp or roll it. Using the weights above, a compacted yard of damp fill takes about 1.49 loose yards, and dry fill about 1.70. FHWA's own rule of thumb is that 1 cubic yard dug from the ground takes up about 1.25 yards in the truck and only 0.65 to 0.85 yards once compacted, and it says shrink factors vary by about a third. Choose "After compacting" above if your depth is the finished, packed depth, as for a shed pad. Topsoil for planting usually isn't compacted, so leave it on "Loose".
How much is a yard of dirt?
Prices vary a lot by region, by material (screened topsoil usually costs more than fill dirt) and by delivery distance, and some suppliers sell by the ton instead of the yard. Enter your supplier's price per cubic yard above to get the cost. If they quote by the ton, the weight result tells you how many tons to price.
Can I use this for a raised bed?
Yes. Choose "Raised bed", enter the bed's inside length, width and depth, and pick topsoil. If you're buying bagged soil, divide the cubic feet result by the cubic feet printed on the bag and round up.