Fill Dirt Calculator
Cubic yards & tons of fill dirt
Filling a low spot or building up a grade? Enter the area and fill depth to get the cubic yards and tons of fill dirt to order.
Fill dirt vs. topsoil
Fill dirt is cheap, subsoil-grade material for raising and leveling grade — it has little organic matter, so it's structural, not for planting. Save topsoil for the final few inches you'll actually grow in. The math is area × depth.
Compact in layers
Place and compact fill in 6-inch lifts rather than one big dump — loose fill keeps settling for months and leaves dips, or worse, voids near foundations. Order 10–15% extra, since fill loses volume as it's compacted and as moisture leaves it.
Grading away from the house
When filling near a building, slope the finished grade away at about 6 inches over the first 10 feet so water drains off rather than pooling against the foundation. For large regrades near structures, have the final grade checked — drainage mistakes here are expensive to undo.
Fill Dirt Calculator: frequently asked questions
How many tons of fill dirt in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.2–1.5 tons depending on moisture and compaction.
Should I compact fill dirt?
Yes — compact it in 6-inch lifts to prevent later settling and sinkholes.
Is fill dirt the same as topsoil?
No. Fill dirt is lower-grade subsoil used for bulk and structure; topsoil is the dark, nutrient-rich upper layer used for growing. Build grade with fill dirt, then cap it with topsoil where you'll plant.