Dirt Calculator is a simple and reliable online tool designed to help you quickly calculate the amount of fill dirt, topsoil, or excavation material needed for your project. Just enter the length, width, and depth, and the calculator instantly provides accurate results in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and estimated tons. It’s ideal for contractors, landscapers, and homeowners who need fast, precise measurements without any confusion or complicated formulas.
Dirt Calculator – Free Fill Dirt & Soil Volume Calculator (Cubic Yards & Tons)
Dirt Calculator Tool – Free Fill Dirt & Soil Volume Calculator (Cubic Yards & Tons)
Enter Length, Width, Depth and select units (ft, m, in).
Fill in Density (ton/yd³) and Truck Capacity (yd³).
Click Calculate to get Cubic Feet, Yards, Meters, Tons, and Truckloads instantly.
⛰️ Dirt & Volume Calculator
Professional · Desktop & Mobile
Density (ton/yd³)
Truck cap (yd³)
Cubic Feet
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Cubic Yards
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Cubic Meters
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Tons
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Truckloads
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What Is a Dirt Calculator?
A Dirt Calculator is an online tool designed to calculate soil volume based on length, width, and depth measurements. It determines how much dirt is needed for filling, grading, landscaping, or construction work.
The tool uses a standard volume formula and converts measurements into:
Cubic feet
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
Estimated tons
Because soil is usually sold by the cubic yard or ton, these calculations help you place accurate orders with suppliers.
Why Accurate Soil Volume Calculation Matters
Accurately calculating soil volume is crucial for the success of any landscaping, gardening, or construction project. Misjudging the amount of dirt needed can lead to wasted money, project delays, and uneven results.
Key Reasons for Accurate Calculation
Cost Efficiency – Ordering too much soil increases expenses unnecessarily, while under-ordering can cause delays and require additional deliveries.
Project Planning – Knowing the exact volume helps you plan truckloads, delivery schedules, and storage requirements efficiently.
Optimal Results – Proper soil depth ensures healthy plant growth for landscaping or garden beds and provides the necessary support for construction projects.
Waste Reduction – Precise calculations prevent excess soil from being wasted, reducing environmental impact and disposal costs.
Time Management – Avoid multiple trips or last-minute orders by estimating soil needs correctly from the start.
Using a Dirt Calculator removes guesswork, providing accurate volume measurements in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and tons, ensuring your project stays on budget, on time, and with optimal results.
Who Should Use This Calculator?
The Dirt Calculator is an essential tool for anyone planning a project that involves soil, whether for landscaping, gardening, or construction. It helps ensure accurate estimates, reduces waste, and saves money.
Ideal Users Include:
Contractors and Builders: Quickly calculate fill dirt for foundations, backfills, and grading projects.
Landscapers: Estimate topsoil for lawns, flower beds, and large landscaping projects.
Gardeners and Homeowners: Plan garden beds, raised beds, and yard leveling with precision.
Property Developers: Manage soil requirements for large-scale construction sites.
DIY Enthusiasts: Avoid costly mistakes when purchasing soil for personal projects.
Using the Dirt Calculator allows all these users to:
Order the correct amount of soil
Save money by avoiding over-ordering
Plan deliveries efficiently
Ensure project success with proper soil coverage
No matter the project size, the Dirt Calculator is a practical, user-friendly tool for anyone who needs accurate soil volume calculations.
How to Use the Dirt Calculator
Using a Dirt Calculator is simple, fast, and ensures accurate soil estimates for any landscaping, gardening, or construction project. Follow these steps to get precise results:
Step 1 – Enter Length and Width
Measure the area you plan to fill or level. Enter the length and width in feet or meters. Make sure your measurements are accurate to avoid miscalculations.
Step 2 – Enter Depth
Input the depth of the soil layer. For garden beds, this might be 8–12 inches, while for backfill or grading, it could be 1–3 feet or more.
Step 3 – Choose Soil Type
Select the type of soil you need: fill dirt for structural support or topsoil for gardening and landscaping. This helps the calculator estimate weight (tons) accurately.
Step 4 – Calculate Volume
Click the Calculate button. The Dirt Calculator will display results in:
Cubic feet
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
Estimated tons
Step 5 – Plan Truckloads and Cost
Use the results to determine:
How many truckloads are required based on dump truck capacity
Estimated cost based on price per cubic yard or price per ton
Why This Method Works
By following these steps, you ensure:
Accurate material orders
Cost-efficient planning
Proper soil depth and coverage
Smooth project execution without delays
Using the Dirt Calculator removes guesswork, saves time, and provides precise measurements for both small backyard projects and large-scale construction sites.
Dirt Volume Formula Explained
Calculating the correct amount of soil is essential for any landscaping or construction project. The Dirt Calculator uses a straightforward formula to determine the volume of dirt you need based on the area’s dimensions and desired depth.
Basic Formula
The core formula is:
Length: The measurement along the longest side of your project area
Width: The measurement along the shorter side
Depth: How thick the soil layer will be
This gives you the total volume in cubic feet.
Converting to Common Units
Since soil is usually sold by the cubic yard or ton, you’ll need to convert:
Cubic Feet → Cubic Yards: Divide by 27
Cubic Yards → Tons: Multiply by the soil’s density (typically 1.2–1.5 tons per cubic yard for fill dirt)
Example Calculation
If your project area is 15 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 1 foot deep:
Why It Matters
Understanding the dirt volume formula ensures:
Accurate material ordering
Cost-efficient planning
Proper project execution without delays
Using a Dirt Calculator automates these steps, giving you instant and precise results for cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and tons.
Basic Volume Formula (Length × Width × Depth)
Calculating the amount of soil needed for any project starts with understanding the basic volume formula. The formula is simple and forms the foundation for the Dirt Calculator:
How It Works
Length: The longest side of the area you plan to fill (in feet or meters)
Width: The shorter side of the area (in feet or meters)
Depth: The thickness of the soil layer (in feet or inches)
Example:
If you are filling a yard area measuring 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 1 foot deep:
Once you have cubic feet, you can convert it into cubic yards or tons using the formulas discussed earlier.
Why This Formula Is Important
Provides an accurate estimate of soil volume
Helps prevent under-ordering or over-ordering
Works for all types of soil: fill dirt, topsoil, or compost
Forms the basis for calculations in the Dirt Calculator
By combining the Length × Width × Depth formula with the Dirt Calculator, you save time and ensure precise results for any landscaping, gardening, or construction project.
Converting Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
When calculating soil for a project, measurements often start in cubic feet, but most suppliers sell dirt by cubic yards. Converting between these units ensures accurate ordering and prevents over- or under-purchasing.
The Conversion Formula
1 cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet.
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, use the formula:
Example:
If your project requires 81 cubic feet of soil:
Why This Conversion Matters
Suppliers typically price soil by the cubic yard, not cubic feet
Ensures accurate ordering for delivery and cost estimation
Helps plan truckloads based on standard dump truck capacity
Reduces waste and avoids unnecessary expenses
Using a Dirt Calculator automatically performs this conversion for you, making your soil calculations fast, precise, and hassle-free.
How Tons Are Estimated
When ordering soil for a project, knowing the weight in tons is essential for accurate planning and budgeting. The Dirt Calculator not only measures volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, or cubic meters but also provides an estimated weight in tons based on the type of soil.
Estimating Soil Weight
Average fill dirt: 1.2–1.5 tons per cubic yard
Topsoil: 1.0–1.3 tons per cubic yard
The estimated weight depends on factors such as moisture content, soil composition, and compaction. Wet or clay-heavy soils weigh more than dry or sandy soils.
How the Calculator Works
The formula used to estimate tons is:
Tons = Cubic Yards × Soil Density
For example, if your project requires 10 cubic yards of fill dirt and the average density is 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
By calculating tons in advance, you can:
Determine delivery requirements accurately
Prevent overloading trucks
Plan for storage and spreading efficiently
Avoid unexpected costs
Using a Dirt Calculator ensures your material orders are precise, saving both time and money while keeping your project on track.
Fill Dirt vs Topsoil – What’s the Difference?
Understanding the difference between fill dirt and topsoil is essential for any landscaping or construction project. Each type of soil serves a distinct purpose, and choosing the right one ensures project success and cost efficiency.
Fill Dirt
Fill dirt is subsoil taken from beneath the top layer of earth. It contains minimal organic material and is primarily used for structural support, leveling, and grading. Common applications include:
Foundation backfill
Raising ground levels
Filling trenches or low spots
Driveway or yard leveling
Fill dirt is compact and stable, making it ideal for projects that require support rather than fertility.
Topsoil
Topsoil is the nutrient-rich upper layer of soil, designed for plant growth and landscaping. It contains organic matter, minerals, and microorganisms that support healthy lawns, gardens, and flower beds. Common applications include:
Lawn installation
Garden bed preparation
Landscaping and planting
Vegetable or herb gardens
Choosing the Right Soil
Use fill dirt for structural and leveling purposes, and topsoil for planting and gardening. Combining the Dirt Calculator with your soil type ensures you order the correct volume and type of soil for your project, reducing waste, saving money, and avoiding delays.
What Is Fill Dirt?
Fill dirt is subsoil excavated from beneath the top layer of earth, primarily used for construction, grading, and land leveling projects. Unlike topsoil, fill dirt contains very little organic material and is not suitable for planting or gardening. Its main purpose is to provide stability and support for structures or to fill low areas in a yard or construction site.
Common uses of fill dirt include:
Foundation backfill for buildings
Raising ground levels
Grading driveways, yards, and landscaping
Filling holes, trenches, or depressions
Fill dirt is dense, compact, and ideal for projects that require structural integrity. By using a Dirt Calculator, you can accurately measure how much fill dirt is needed, preventing both under-ordering (which can delay construction) and over-ordering (which increases costs).
Choosing the right type and amount of fill dirt ensures your project remains stable, safe, and on budget.
What Is Topsoil?
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil, typically 2–8 inches thick, rich in organic matter, nutrients, and minerals that support healthy plant growth. Unlike fill dirt, topsoil is designed for gardening, landscaping, and planting purposes rather than structural support.
Topsoil is commonly used for:
Lawns and turf installation
Flower beds and gardens
Vegetable and herb beds
Landscaping around homes and properties
High-quality topsoil improves soil fertility, promotes proper drainage, and provides a stable foundation for plants. When using a Dirt Calculator, you can accurately determine how much topsoil is required to cover your project area to the desired depth, ensuring you order just the right amount.
Choosing the correct amount of topsoil prevents underfilling, which can harm plants, and avoids over-ordering, saving money and reducing waste.
Which One Do You Need?
Choosing the right type of soil is just as important as calculating the correct amount. Your project may require fill dirt or topsoil, depending on its purpose.
Fill Dirt: Ideal for construction, foundation backfill, grading, or leveling land. Fill dirt is compact, stable, and provides structural support, but it contains minimal organic material.
Topsoil: Best for gardening, landscaping, and planting. Topsoil is nutrient-rich and promotes healthy plant growth, but it is not suitable for structural support.
Using a Dirt Calculator allows you to measure the correct volume regardless of soil type. By selecting the right material for your project, you ensure:
Proper plant growth (with topsoil)
Structural stability (with fill dirt)
Accurate ordering without wasting money or materials
Understanding the difference between fill dirt and topsoil helps you make informed decisions and guarantees your project’s success.
Common Dirt Calculation Scenarios
Using a Dirt Calculator is helpful for a wide range of projects, from small backyard gardens to large construction sites. Understanding common scenarios ensures you can accurately estimate soil needs and avoid over- or under-ordering.
Landscaping Projects
Whether planting lawns, shrubs, or flower beds, calculating soil volume ensures even coverage and proper depth for healthy plant growth.
Garden Bed Preparation
Raised or in-ground garden beds require precise soil depth, usually between 8–12 inches, for optimal root development.
Foundation Backfill
After laying a foundation, fill dirt is needed to backfill around walls and footings, providing stability and proper drainage.
Driveway or Yard Leveling
Uneven yards or driveway areas require grading and leveling with fill dirt to prevent water pooling and erosion.
Excavation and Construction Projects
Large construction or excavation projects often involve filling holes or trenches with specific amounts of soil for structural support.
By applying the Dirt Calculator to these scenarios, you can determine the exact volume of soil needed, plan truckloads, and control costs efficiently, ensuring your project runs smoothly from start to finish.
Landscaping Projects
Landscaping projects, such as creating flower beds, leveling yards, or installing lawns, often require precise amounts of soil. Using a Dirt Calculator ensures you order the right volume of topsoil or fill dirt for your project, preventing both shortages and excess.
To calculate soil needs for landscaping:
Measure the length, width, and depth of the area to be covered.
Enter these measurements into the Dirt Calculator.
Receive instant results in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and estimated tons.
Accurate soil estimation helps you:
Achieve even coverage across your landscape
Avoid wasting money on extra soil
Plan delivery efficiently and minimize truckloads
Ensure plants and lawns thrive with proper soil depth
Whether it’s a small backyard garden or a large-scale landscaping project, the Dirt Calculator makes planning easy, efficient, and cost-effective, giving you a smooth and professional finish every time.
Foundation Backfill
After building a foundation, backfilling is a crucial step to provide stability, support, and proper drainage around the structure. Using a Dirt Calculator helps you determine the precise amount of fill dirt needed to fill the space around your foundation without wasting material.
To calculate backfill volume:
Measure the length, width, and depth of the area around the foundation.
Input these measurements into the Dirt Calculator.
Instantly get results in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and estimated tons.
Accurate backfill estimation ensures:
Proper structural support for walls and footings
Avoidance of over-ordering, saving money
Efficient delivery planning and fewer truckloads
Faster project completion with minimal delays
Whether for residential or commercial construction, using a Dirt Calculator for foundation backfill allows you to plan precisely and maintain a safe, stable, and durable foundation for your project.
Driveway or Yard Leveling
Proper leveling of a driveway or yard is essential for drainage, stability, and long-term durability. Uneven surfaces can lead to water pooling, erosion, or structural issues over time. Using a Dirt Calculator makes it easy to determine exactly how much fill dirt or topsoil is needed to achieve a smooth, level surface.
To calculate the volume:
Measure the length, width, and desired depth of the area you want to level.
Enter these measurements into the Dirt Calculator.
Receive instant results in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and estimated tons.
Accurate soil estimation ensures you:
Fill low spots efficiently
Avoid over-ordering or under-ordering dirt
Plan delivery and truckloads correctly
Save time and money on labor and material
Whether you’re leveling a residential yard, preparing a driveway, or grading a large property, the Dirt Calculator helps you complete the project efficiently while maintaining a flat, stable surface.
Garden Bed Preparation
Preparing a garden bed requires careful planning to ensure your plants thrive, and calculating the right amount of soil is a critical first step. Using a Dirt Calculator, you can determine exactly how much topsoil or fill dirt is needed to fill your garden beds to the desired depth.
Most raised garden beds require 8–12 inches of soil for healthy root growth. Even for smaller beds, miscalculating the volume can lead to wasted money or insufficient soil for your plants. By entering the length, width, and depth of your beds into the calculator, you get accurate results in:
Cubic feet
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
Estimated tons
Accurate measurement helps you:
Avoid underfilling, which can harm plant growth
Prevent over-ordering, saving money and reducing waste
Plan delivery efficiently if ordering bulk soil
Whether you’re planting vegetables, flowers, or shrubs, using a Dirt Calculator ensures your garden beds have the right amount of nutrient-rich soil, giving your plants the best chance to flourish.
How Much Does Fill Dirt Cost?
The cost of fill dirt varies depending on your location, supplier, and project size. On average, fill dirt costs between $5 and $25 per cubic yard, making it one of the most affordable materials for landscaping and construction projects.
If you prefer to buy by weight, the cost is typically $10 to $25 per ton, though this can fluctuate based on moisture content, soil composition, and delivery fees. Topsoil is generally more expensive, often ranging from $15 to $50 per cubic yard, because of its nutrient-rich properties.
Other factors that influence fill dirt cost include:
Delivery distance – Longer distances can increase fees
Truckload size – Larger loads may reduce cost per yard, while small deliveries may be more expensive
Soil quality – Clean, screened fill dirt may cost more than untreated soil
Using a Dirt Calculator before ordering helps you determine exactly how much fill dirt you need. By combining the calculated volume with the cost per cubic yard or ton, you can estimate your total project expenses accurately and avoid overspending.
Average Price Per Cubic Yard
Knowing the average price per cubic yard of dirt or topsoil is essential for planning your project budget. Many suppliers charge by the cubic yard, which makes it easy to estimate material costs once you know your project’s total volume using a Dirt Calculator.
Typical pricing ranges:
Fill dirt: $5 to $25 per cubic yard, depending on quality, location, and delivery distance
Topsoil: $15 to $50 per cubic yard, due to its nutrient-rich composition and usability for landscaping
Factors that can affect the cost per cubic yard include:
Soil type – Topsoil is generally more expensive than fill dirt
Moisture content – Wet soil weighs more and may increase transport costs
Delivery fees – Longer distances and multiple truckloads can raise overall costs
Local supply and demand – Prices vary regionally
Using a Dirt Calculator with cubic yard calculations helps you:
Determine how much material to order
Estimate the total cost accurately
Avoid ordering too much or too little material
This ensures your project stays on budget while providing exactly the amount of dirt you need.
Cost Per Ton
Understanding the cost per ton of dirt or soil is crucial for budgeting your project accurately. Many suppliers sell fill dirt and topsoil by weight, and knowing the price per ton helps you estimate total expenses.
On average:
Fill dirt ranges from $10 to $25 per ton depending on quality, location, and moisture content.
Topsoil is usually more expensive, often $20 to $50 per ton, due to its nutrient-rich composition.
Keep in mind that delivery charges may be added, and some suppliers may include fuel surcharges or additional fees for small loads. Using the Dirt Calculator in combination with the per-ton cost allows you to:
Estimate your total material costs accurately
Compare suppliers before ordering
Avoid overpaying for excess material
By calculating cost per ton in advance, you can create a precise project budget, reduce waste, and ensure you only pay for the material you actually need.
Delivery & Truckload Considerations
When planning to order fill dirt or topsoil, it’s important to consider delivery logistics and truckload capacity. Proper planning ensures your project stays on schedule and avoids unexpected costs.
Most suppliers deliver soil using dump trucks, which typically carry 10–15 cubic yards per load. Knowing this helps you determine how many truckloads you need and allows you to schedule deliveries efficiently.
Other key considerations include:
Access to your property: Ensure trucks can reach the delivery site without obstruction.
Delivery timing: Coordinate deliveries to avoid interfering with ongoing work or adverse weather.
Weight limits: Local regulations may limit the maximum load per truck, affecting delivery size.
Multiple loads: Large projects may require several trips; plan accordingly to minimize labor and fuel costs.
Soil type and moisture content: Wet soil is heavier, so the truck may carry slightly less than its standard capacity.
By combining your Dirt Calculator results with delivery and truckload planning, you can avoid under- or over-ordering, reduce delivery costs, and ensure a smooth workflow for your project.
How Many Truckloads of Dirt Do I Need?
Once you know the total volume of dirt required for your project, the next step is to calculate how many truckloads you’ll need. This ensures smooth delivery, avoids multiple small trips, and helps you manage costs efficiently.
To estimate truckloads:
Determine total cubic yards using your Dirt Calculator.
Check the capacity of the dump truck you plan to use (standard trucks typically carry 10–15 cubic yards per load).
Divide the total volume by truck capacity to get the number of trips required.
Example:
Project requires 30 cubic yards of fill dirt
Using a 10-yard truck → 30 ÷ 10 = 3 truckloads
Using a 15-yard truck → 30 ÷ 15 = 2 truckloads
By calculating the number of truckloads in advance, you can:
Schedule deliveries efficiently
Avoid delays caused by insufficient material
Reduce extra delivery costs
Ensure the project runs smoothly from start to finish
This step, combined with the Dirt Calculator, makes project planning simple and accurate, saving both time and money.
Standard Dump Truck Capacity
When planning a large project, knowing how much a standard dump truck can carry is essential for estimating deliveries. Most dirt, fill, or topsoil is transported in dump trucks, and the typical capacity ranges from 10 to 15 cubic yards per truck.
Understanding this capacity allows you to calculate how many trips or truckloads you will need to complete your project. For example, if your project requires 30 cubic yards of soil:
Using a 10-yard dump truck, you would need 3 truckloads
Using a 15-yard dump truck, you would need 2 truckloads
Keep in mind that actual truck capacity may vary slightly depending on the material type, moisture content, and local regulations. By factoring in dump truck capacity with your Dirt Calculator, you can plan deliveries more efficiently, avoid delays, and ensure your project stays on schedule.
Estimating Based on Project Size
When planning a landscaping or construction project, understanding your project’s size is crucial for accurate soil estimation. The Dirt Calculator makes it easy to convert your measurements into the exact volume of dirt you’ll need.
Start by measuring the length, width, and depth of the area you plan to fill or level. Larger projects, like yard grading or driveway preparation, will obviously require more material, while smaller garden beds may need only a few cubic yards. Once you input these dimensions, the calculator provides results in cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, and estimated tons, giving you a clear picture of how much dirt to order.
By estimating based on project size, you can:
Avoid ordering too little dirt, which can delay your project
Prevent over-ordering, saving money and reducing waste
Plan truckloads efficiently, ensuring smooth delivery and logistics
Whether it’s a small backyard project or a large construction site, accurate estimation ensures that you have the right amount of material, helping you stay on budget and on schedule.
Tips to Avoid Ordering Too Much or Too Little Dirt
Ordering the right amount of dirt is key to saving money and avoiding project delays. Use a dirt calculator to measure the exact volume you need in cubic feet, yards, or meters. Always account for:
Extra for Compaction – Dirt settles over time; add 5–10% more.
Accurate Measurements – Measure length, width, and depth carefully.
Truck Capacity – Know how much your delivery truck can carry to avoid multiple trips.
Type of Dirt – Heavier or denser dirt affects the total weight and tons needed.
✅ Using a calculator ensures you order just the right amount, saving both money and effort.
FAQs About Dirt Calculator
How do I measure my project area for the calculator?
Measure the length, width, and depth of the area you want to fill or level. Enter these dimensions into the calculator for accurate results. Use consistent units (feet, meters, or inches).
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
- Fill Dirt: Dense subsoil, ideal for grading, leveling, and structural support.
- Topsoil: Nutrient-rich upper soil layer, best for gardening, planting, and landscaping.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide the cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Most soil suppliers sell by the cubic yard, making this conversion important for ordering.
How many tons of dirt do I need?
Multiply the total cubic yards by the soil’s density:
- Fill dirt: ~1.2–1.5 tons per cubic yard
- Topsoil: ~1.0–1.3 tons per cubic yard
How do I calculate truckloads?
Divide your total cubic yards by the capacity of the dump truck (usually 10–15 cubic yards). This helps plan deliveries efficiently.
Can this calculator be used for both small and large projects?
Yes! The Dirt Calculator works for any project size, from a small garden bed to large-scale landscaping or construction sites.
Why is accurate soil calculation important?
Accurate calculations save money, prevent waste, ensure proper coverage and depth, and help your project stay on schedule.
Final Thoughts on Using a Dirt Calculator
Accurate soil estimation is the foundation of any successful construction or landscaping project. A professional Dirt Calculator removes guesswork and ensures you order exactly what you need. By calculating cubic yards, tons, and volume measurements correctly, you can control costs, reduce waste, and complete your project with confidence.
Before placing your next soil order, use this Dirt Calculator to make informed, accurate decisions.