Dirt Calculator: Free Online Dirt Calculator

Use our free dirt calculator to figure out how much fill dirt or topsoil you need for grading, filling low spots, or building up a planting bed. Enter your area's length, width, and depth to get the coverage area, volume in cubic yards, and estimated weight in tons.

How to use this calculator.

1. Enter the area length and width. Measure the footprint you're filling or leveling, in feet.
2. Enter the depth. Use your target fill depth in inches; for irregular holes, use the average depth.
3. Review your results. The calculator returns area (sq ft), dirt volume (cu yd), and dirt weight (tons) instantly.
4. Add a settlement allowance. Loose fill dirt compresses once compacted, so plan for extra material on top of the raw volume.
5. Confirm truck capacity with your supplier. A standard dump truck holds 10-16 cubic yards.

How do you calculate dirt and soil quantities?

The calculator converts your area and depth into a volume, then applies an average density to estimate weight.

Area (sq ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft)

Dirt Volume (cu yd) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324

Dirt Weight (tons) = Volume (cu yd) × 1.1

Where:

• Length & Width: The dimensions of the area to be filled, in feet.
• Depth: The fill thickness, in inches.
• 1.1: The average weight of moist fill dirt or topsoil in tons per cubic yard. Dry dirt runs closer to 1.0 ton/cu yd; wet clay-heavy soil can exceed 1.35 tons/cu yd.

Example calculation.

Scenario: You're filling a 20 ft × 10 ft low spot in the yard with 6 inches of fill dirt.

1. Calculate the area: 20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft.
2. Convert depth to feet: 6 in ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft.
3. Calculate volume in cubic feet: 200 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 100 cu ft.
4. Convert to cubic yards: 100 cu ft ÷ 27 = 3.70 cu yd.
5. Calculate weight: 3.70 cu yd × 1.1 = 4.07 tons.

Result: This project needs approximately3.70 cubic yards, weighing about4.1 tons, of fill dirt.

Tips from the field.

• Add 10-15% for compaction settlement. Loose dirt settles noticeably once it's rained on or driven over, so order more than the raw calculated volume.
• Fill dirt and topsoil are not interchangeable. Use fill dirt for grading and structural fill; save topsoil, which contains organic matter, for the top layer where plants will grow.
• A dump truck holds 10-16 cubic yards. Tri-axle trucks carry more, 15-22 yards; smaller trucks may only carry 5-8. Confirm capacity before ordering.
• Avoid dirt with debris or heavy organic content for structural fill. Decomposing organic matter causes the fill to settle unevenly over time.
• Compact in layers. Spread and compact fill dirt in 4-6 inch lifts rather than dumping and compacting the full depth at once.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Actual material requirements vary based on soil moisture, compaction, and site conditions. For structural fill or load-bearing applications, consult a licensed civil engineer. PavementCalculator.com assumes no liability for material overages or shortages.