Fill Dirt Calculator
Enter your area and fill depth to get the cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons of fill dirt you need.
What your result means
Cubic yards is your bulk order figure; tons covers weight-based pricing. Fill dirt is subsoil with no organic matter, denser than topsoil at about 90 lbs a cubic foot and cheaper too. Compact it in 4 to 6 inch lifts for anything structural, add 10% for settling, and don't put it under a foundation without an engineering review.
How to use this calculator
- Measure area to fill in feet.
- Choose fill depth in inches.
- Read cubic feet, yards, tons.
- Order from bulk supplier - cheaper than bags.
- Compact in lifts for structural use.
The formula
Volume in cubic feet is length times width times depth in feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Fill dirt weighs about 90 lbs a cubic foot, so multiply by 90 over 2,000 for tons.
Worked example
Say you're filling a 30 by 30 ft pad 12 inches deep. That's 900 cubic feet, 33.33 cubic yards, or 40.5 tons. Compact it in 4 to 6 inch lifts and add 10% for settling.
Fill dirt quick reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 90 lb/cf |
| Lift depth (compaction) | 4 – 6 in |
| Bulk price | $5 – $25 / yd |
| Settling allowance | +10% |
Tips & gotchas
- Density runs about 90 lbs a cubic foot.
- One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
- It's cheaper than topsoil; just earth without the organic matter.
- Compact it in 4 to 6 inch lifts for structural fill.
- Don't use it under a foundation without an engineering review.
- Add 10% for settling.
Frequently asked questions
What is fill dirt?
Subsoil used for grading and filling. It isn't topsoil.
How much does fill dirt cost?
$5 to $25 a yard delivered, much cheaper than topsoil.
Can I use fill dirt for a garden?
Not directly. Put 4 to 6 inches of topsoil over it.
How deep can I fill in one lift?
4 to 6 inches max for proper compaction.
How long does fill dirt take to settle?
One to two years naturally; compaction speeds it up.
Related calculators
Estimates only — see our full disclaimer.