Fill Dirt Calculator

Calculate how much fill dirt you need for grading, backfilling, and leveling. Get volume in cubic yards, tons, and truckloads with compaction factor.

⛰️ Fill Dirt Calculator

Results

Volume (loose)400.00 cu ft
Volume (+ compaction)500.00 cu ft
Order Amount18.5 cu yd
Weight21.3 tons
Truckloads (14 yd)1.3 loads

πŸ’‘ How to Calculate Fill Dirt Quantities

Fill dirt is used to raise grade, fill excavations, and create level building surfaces. The key to accurate estimation is the compaction factor β€” loose fill dirt compacts 20–30% when mechanically compacted, meaning you need to order 20–30% more than the finished volume.

Fill dirt weighs approximately 1.15 tons per cubic yard (compacted). Standard dump trucks carry 10–14 cubic yards per load. For large projects, ordering by the truckload is most economical. Specify 'clean fill' to ensure you get dirt free of organic matter, debris, and contaminants.

A 20Γ—20 ft area needing 12 inches of fill: base volume = 400 cu ft, with 25% compaction factor = 500 cu ft = 18.5 cu yd β‰ˆ 21.3 tons. That's about 1.3 dump truck loads (14 yd each).

Fill Dirt Calculator FAQ