Soil
Fill Dirt Calculator
Calculate fill dirt for regrading, leveling low spots, and structural fill projects.
Inputs
Live estimate
Material needed
11.11 cu yd
- Area
- 500 sq ft
- Cubic feet
- 250
- Cubic yards
- 9.26
- Estimated tons
- 14.44 tons
- Estimated truckloads
- 0.79
You will likely need
- •11.11 cu yd — material needed
- •Schedule 1 truck load
- •Approximate delivered weight: 14.44 tons
Diagram
Live estimate
- Mathematical quantity
- 11 cu yd
- Placement compaction (already applied)
- Informational
- Field conditions
- Not applied
- Adjusted requirement
- 11 cu yd
- Ordering rule
- Round up to whole cubic yard
- Suggested order
- 12 cu yd
Fill is placed in lifts and compacted; the engine applies the loose→compacted factor once via Advanced options.
What you actually need in the field, before rounding to a supplier-friendly ordering unit.
Estimator confidence
LowerThe primary result already includes the compaction factor from Advanced options. Loose delivered volume exceeds the compacted design depth.
Improve confidence: Verify the compaction percentage in Advanced options matches your spec (typical 15–25%).
Why this behavior applies: Aggregate base is specified as a compacted depth, so the loose delivered volume must exceed it. This calculator applies that factor once — in the primary quantity — and the intelligence layer only explains it.
- Compacted lift thickness — Fill must be placed and compacted in lifts, not a single dump.
- Compact in 8-inch lifts to 90% Proctor before adding the next lift.
- Cap with topsoil for any surface that will be planted or landscaped.
- Confirm the source — some fill dirt contains construction debris.
- Skipping lift compaction and letting fill settle unevenly for years.
- Planting into fill dirt without a topsoil cap.
- Ordering by loose yards and finding the compacted volume is 15–20% smaller.
Smart tips
- Ordering 5–10% extra is standard on irregular layouts. Running short costs more than the excess.
How it's calculated
Area is derived from your shape inputs and converted to sq ft.
Depth is converted to feet; cubic feet = area × depth.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, then × (1 + waste %) × (1 + compaction %).
Estimated tons = cubic yards (with waste) × 1.3.
Truckloads = cubic yards (with waste) ÷ truck capacity.
Total cost = cubic yards (with waste) × price per cubic yard + delivery.
Professional guidance
When to use fill dirt
Filling low spots, raising grade, backfilling around foundations, and structural fill.
Recommended compaction
Fill in 6-inch lifts and compact each pass. Loose fill will settle for years.
Pro tip
For structural fill under slabs or footings, use engineered fill (crushed rock) — not clean fill dirt.
Common mistakes
Using fill dirt where you plan to grow anything. It doesn't drain well and won't support plant roots.
Material assumptions
- Fill dirt density: about 1.3 tons per cubic yard.
- Fill dirt is subsoil — it lacks the organic matter needed to grow plants.
- Compacts 15–25%. Order extra to account for it.
Frequently asked questions
Related calculators
These results are estimates only. Confirm quantities, compaction, waste, and delivery requirements with your supplier or project professional before ordering materials.