Quick checks
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Choose fill dirt, topsoil, or another material first
Free Dirt & Fill Calculator
Estimate fill dirt, topsoil, sand, and gravel in cubic yards, tons, truckloads, and cost.
Cubic Yards & Tons
Delivery Estimates
Multiple Materials
Quick checks
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Adjust loose yards for compaction and settlement
Quick checks
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Convert volume into the truckloads suppliers actually quote
Site-material planning
Choose the material before you trust the yardage
The first question is not volume. It is whether the job needs fill dirt, planting soil, compost, or gravel.
Compacted fill
Use when the job is grading, pad build-up, trench backfill, or structural fill beneath another layer.
Loose volume should be adjusted upward because compaction and moisture behavior change the delivered amount.
Think in compacted target volume plus bulking allowance, not raw hole size alone.
Planting-ready soil
Use when the surface must grow grass, flowers, shrubs, or vegetables after placement.
Topsoil, screened blends, or compost amendments often matter more than pure cubic-yard math.
Match the soil type to the planting goal before you compare supplier prices.
Truckload-driven delivery
Use when access, haul distance, or supplier minimums determine the job more than the theoretical yards.
Many users really need load count, staging area, and whether partial loads are worth paying for.
Convert yards into realistic truck batches before calling for quotes.
Fast planning rules
Start with the dirt rules that change the order
Choose the right material, adjust for compaction, and convert yards into truckloads.
Fill dirt vs. topsoil
Fill dirt is for grading, backfill, and structural fill, while topsoil is for grass, gardens, and planting work.
Choose the material first. Then size the load.
Compacted fill ordering rule
You usually need to order more loose material than the final compacted volume because fill settles, bulks, and loses air during compaction.
Raw cubic-yard math often comes in short on real fill jobs.
Truckload reality
Suppliers often quote in 10-yard or 12-yard loads, so converting yards into truck counts should happen before you call, not after.
That matters even more on backfill, pad, trench, and tight-access jobs.
What is a dirt calculator? It turns area and depth into cubic yards, tons, and truckloads so you can size fill, topsoil, sand, or gravel before you order.
How to Use This Dirt Calculator
Use this calculator to size fill, topsoil, sand, or gravel for grading, beds, backfill, and pad work. Enter the area and depth. Then compare yards, tons, truckloads, and cost before you call the yard.
Step 1: Choose Your Material Type
Different projects require different materials. Here's a guide to help you choose:
- Fill Dirt - Inexpensive soil for filling holes, grading, and backfill. Contains rocks, clay, and subsoil. Not suitable for planting.
- Topsoil - Nutrient-rich surface soil for lawns, gardens, and landscaping. Should be dark and crumbly.
- Screened Topsoil - Premium topsoil filtered to remove rocks, roots, and debris. Best for fine gardening.
- Garden Mix - Blend of topsoil, compost, and amendments. Ideal for vegetable gardens and flower beds.
- Sand - For drainage, leveling pavers, and mixing with soil. Play sand vs. construction sand matters.
- Gravel - Crushed stone for driveways, drainage, and base material. Sizes from pea gravel to 3/4" stone.
- Mulch - Wood chips or bark for landscaping beds. Suppresses weeds and retains moisture.
- Compost - Organic matter for soil amendment. Improves soil structure and adds nutrients.
Step 2: Select Your Area Shape
Our calculator supports multiple shapes to match your project area:
- Rectangle/Square - Most common for garden beds, patios, and standard areas
- Circle - For round flower beds, tree wells, and fire pit areas
- Triangle - Corner areas and angled sections
- Irregular - Enter total square footage if you've already measured a complex shape
Step 3: Enter Dimensions
Measure your area in feet for length and width. Enter depth in inches - this is the most common source of calculation errors. Remember:
- Lawns: 2-4 inches of topsoil for new grass
- Garden Beds: 4-6 inches minimum, 8-12 inches for raised beds
- Fill Projects: Varies by depth needed, account for settling
- Mulch: 2-4 inches for weed control and moisture retention
Understanding Compaction Factor
When you dump loose material, it settles and compacts over time - especially fill dirt and gravel. The compaction factor adds extra material to compensate:
- 10-15% - Standard for most landscaping projects
- 20-25% - Fill dirt and foundation backfill
- 5-10% - Mulch and compost (minimal settling)
Pro Tip: It's always better to have slightly too much material than to run short mid-project. Most suppliers won't accept returns of bulk materials.
Bulk Delivery vs. Bagged Material
Understanding when to buy bulk versus bags can save you hundreds of dollars:
When to Buy Bulk (Truckload Delivery)
- Projects requiring more than 3 cubic yards
- Cost savings of 50-70% compared to bags
- Less packaging waste
- One-time delivery (no multiple store trips)
Typical truck sizes:
- Small truck: 5 cubic yards - good for most residential projects
- Standard truck: 10 cubic yards - medium landscaping jobs
- Large truck: 15+ cubic yards - major grading or construction
When to Buy Bags
- Small projects under 3 cubic yards
- Limited access (no room for truck to dump)
- Need precise control over placement
- Mixing materials yourself
A 40-lb bag of topsoil typically contains about 0.75 cubic feet. You'll need approximately 36 bags to equal 1 cubic yard.
Material Cost Guide
| Material | Price per Cubic Yard | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Fill Dirt | $15 - $30 | Grading, backfill, holes |
| Topsoil | $25 - $55 | Lawns, gardens, landscaping |
| Screened Topsoil | $35 - $65 | Fine gardening, seed beds |
| Garden Mix | $40 - $75 | Vegetable gardens, flowers |
| Sand | $25 - $50 | Drainage, paver base |
| Gravel | $35 - $65 | Driveways, paths, drainage |
| Mulch | $25 - $45 | Landscaping beds |
| Compost | $30 - $60 | Soil amendment |
* Prices vary significantly by region. Delivery typically adds $50-200 depending on distance and load size.
How we checked this page
Written by: TheSiteMath Editorial Team
Reviewed by: TheSiteMath editors (formula, source, and update review)
Last reviewed: 2026-03-20
Publisher:
TheSiteMath
Scope: U.S. construction material estimating, calculator workflows, and project planning guidance for contractors and homeowners.
What we checked:
- • Formulas checked against trade and source material
- • Verified against: Landscape material coverage and delivery references, Supplier tonnage / cubic-yard conversion assumptions, Current U.S. landscaping material pricing benchmarks
- • Price ranges used for planning, not as fixed quotes
- • Examples checked in the live calculator
Methodology:
- • Example quantities and explanations on this page are cross-checked against the matching live calculator on TheSiteMath.
- • This landscaping content is scoped for U.S. planning and estimating workflows, not for stamped engineering or permit approval.
- • We review formulas, material assumptions, and practical steps against category-appropriate references before publishing updates.
- • We refresh pages when calculator logic, supplier assumptions, or pricing guidance materially changes.
- • Readers should confirm final dimensions, structural requirements, and local code obligations with qualified local professionals.
Editorial standards: We review pages before publication and update them when formulas or pricing need a fix. If you spot an issue, please
contact us
.
For our review process, corrections policy, and monetization disclosure, see the Editorial Standards page.
Site fill FAQ
Fill, soil, and truckload questions before you call a yard
These questions help visitors choose the right material class, compaction logic, and delivery approach before a supplier quote turns into the wrong order.
How much area does one cubic yard of dirt cover?
One cubic yard of dirt covers approximately 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. To calculate coverage for your depth: divide 324 by the depth in inches.
How many cubic yards do I need for a 10x10 garden bed?
For a 10x10 foot garden bed at 6 inches deep: 10 × 10 × 0.5 = 50 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. Adding 15% for settling: approximately 2.1 cubic yards of garden soil or topsoil.
How much does a cubic yard of dirt weigh?
It depends on the material: Dry fill dirt weighs 2,000-2,700 lbs (1-1.35 tons), topsoil weighs 1,800-2,200 lbs (0.9-1.1 tons), sand weighs 2,400-2,900 lbs (1.2-1.45 tons), gravel weighs 2,500-2,800 lbs (1.25-1.4 tons), mulch weighs 400-800 lbs (0.2-0.4 tons).
What's the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Fill dirt is subsoil from excavation containing rocks, clay, and minimal organic matter - stable for filling but won't support plant growth. Topsoil is the nutrient-rich top layer (4-12 inches) containing organic matter that supports plant life. Never use fill dirt where you plan to plant.
How deep should topsoil be for grass?
For a healthy lawn: Minimum 4 inches for basic grass growth, 6 inches recommended for a resilient lawn, 8-12 inches ideal for the healthiest turf. Grass roots typically grow 4-6 inches deep, so deeper soil means better drought resistance.
Should I order extra material?
Yes, always order 10-20% extra because: material compacts and settles after delivery, uneven ground requires more in low spots, some is lost during spreading, you can't return bulk material, and running short means paying for another delivery.