Fill Dirt Calculator
Calculate fill dirt for grading, raising low spots, backfilling or filling a pool: cubic yards, tons and truckloads — with the compaction allowance built in so the finished grade ends up level.
Average depth if the ground is uneven
Fill dirt is cheap; delivery is usually the bigger cost
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Enter a price per yard to estimate cost.
You might also need:Topsoil Calculator·Cubic Yard Calculator
Fill dirt math
tons = cubic yards × 1.2 · truckloads = yards ÷ 12
Raising a 30 × 20 ft area by 12 inches takes 600 cubic feet — 22.2 cubic yards loose, or 27.8 yards with a 25% compaction allowance. That's roughly 2–3 tandem truckloads and about 33 tons. Order in whole loads; part-loads cost nearly the same in delivery.
How much fill for common jobs
| Job | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Filling a small sinkhole (4 × 4 × 2 ft) | ~1.2 yd³ |
| Raising a 200 sq ft low spot by 6″ | ~4.6 yd³ |
| Backfilling a foundation trench (50 lin ft) | ~15–25 yd³ |
| Filling a small inground pool | ~50–80 yd³ |
| Building a 500 sq ft pad up 18″ | ~35 yd³ |
Placing fill correctly
- Compact in lifts: 6–8 inches at a time with a plate compactor or roller. Dumping three feet and driving over it does almost nothing below the top few inches.
- Slope away from structures: finished grade should fall about 6 inches over the first 10 feet from a foundation.
- Cap for growing: fill dirt won't support grass or plants — add topsoil on top, then sod or seed.
- Check before you dig or fill — call 811, and check local rules: some areas require permits for grade changes or fill near property lines.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a truckload of fill dirt hold?+
A standard tandem dump truck carries 10–14 cubic yards; a tri-axle 14–16 yards. Smaller single-axle trucks bring 5–8 yards. Because fill dirt is heavy (roughly 1.2 tons per yard), trucks usually hit their weight limit before the box is full.
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?+
Fill dirt is subsoil with the organic matter screened out — dense, stable and cheap, made for building up grades and filling holes. Topsoil is the living layer you grow things in. Use fill dirt for bulk and structure, then cap it with 4–6 inches of topsoil if anything needs to grow.
How much extra fill dirt should I order for compaction?+
Add 20–30%. Loose fill settles substantially once compacted and rained on — a hole filled level today can be a dip in six months. This calculator includes a compaction allowance so the ordered volume matches the finished grade.
How much does fill dirt cost?+
Fill dirt is one of the cheapest bulk materials at $5–$20 per cubic yard, though delivery often costs more than the dirt itself ($50–$150 per load). Some excavation contractors will deliver clean fill free if they need somewhere to put it — worth asking locally.
Can I build on top of fill dirt?+
Only with proper engineering. Fill must be placed in compacted lifts (6–8 inches at a time) and tested for anything structural — a slab or footing on uncompacted fill will settle and crack. For decorative grading and landscaping, DIY compaction with a plate compactor is fine.