Fill Dirt Calculator
Find out how much fill dirt to order — accounting for settling over time — for grading, filling a hole or backfilling.
Your area
Sets a finished depth of 4 in — adjust below if needed.
How much the placed fill settles over time. 10–20% is typical.
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Bags or bulk delivery?
Order bulk by the ton
Settling allowance
Fill type profile
The short answer
Fill dirt settles roughly 10 to 20 percent after it’s placed, so you need to order more than your finished depth suggests. Divide the finished depth by (1 minus the settling allowance) to find the depth to actually place — a 4 inch finished grade needs about 4.7 inches placed before it settles down to grade.
Fill dirt needed for common projects
Figures below use a 15% settling allowance and clean fill density, before waste.
| Project | Finished depth | Placed cubic yards | Placed tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 \u00d7 4 ft low spot | 6″ | 0.42 yd³ | 0.44 t |
| 10 \u00d7 10 ft grading | 4″ | 1.74 yd³ | 1.83 t |
| 4 \u00d7 8 ft raised bed base | 8″ | 1.16 yd³ | 1.22 t |
| 20 ft \u00d7 2 ft foundation backfill | 12″ | 2.61 yd³ | 2.74 t |
| 20 \u00d7 20 ft grading | 4″ | 6.97 yd³ | 7.32 t |
Fill types compared
| Weight per yd³ | Best for | Drainage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean fill dirt | 2,100 lb | General grading, filling holes | Moderate |
| Topsoil-fill blend | 2,000 lb | Raised beds, garden grading | Moderate |
| Clay fill | 2,300 lb | Foundation backfill, dense grading | Poor |
| Sand fill | 2,600 lb | Backfill needing good drainage | Excellent |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered fill can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate fill dirt, accounting for settling
- Decide the finished depth. How deep the fill needs to be once fully settled to grade.
- Add a settling allowance. Divide by (1 \u2212 settling allowance) to find the depth to actually place.
- Find the placed volume. Multiply the placed depth by your area to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Add waste. 5\u201310% covers spillage and grading adjustments.
- Convert to weight. Multiply cubic yards by density (roughly 2,000\u20132,300 lb/yd³), then divide by 2,000 for tons.
Worked example
A 10 \u00d7 10 ft area, graded to a 4 inch finished depth, clean fill dirt, 15% settling allowance:
- Area10 \u00d7 10 = 100 sq ft
- Placed depth4 \u00f7 (1 \u2212 0.15) = 4.71 in
- Placed depth in feet4.71 \u00f7 12 = 0.392 ft
- Placed cubic feet100 \u00d7 0.392 = 39.2 cu ft
- Placed cubic yards39.2 \u00f7 27 = 1.45 yd³
- Plus 10% waste1.60 yd³
- Weight1.60 \u00d7 2,100 = 3,360 lb \u2248 1.7 tons
Why settling matters
Loosely dumped fill dirt has air pockets between particles that gradually close up under its own weight, rainfall and time. Order to the finished depth alone and the grade will sink noticeably within months \u2014 especially over anything not compacted in lifts as it’s placed. Compacting each 4\u20136 inch layer as you go reduces the settling allowance needed, but rarely eliminates it entirely.
Placement checklist
- Clear the areaRemove sod, roots and debris before placing fill.
- Compact in lifts4\u20136 inch layers, compacted with a plate compactor between each.
- Grade away from structuresSlope fill away from foundations and walls to prevent water pooling.
- Water lightly between liftsHelps particles settle together and reduces later shrinkage.
- Leave the settling allowance in placeDon’t level flush to final grade immediately \u2014 the extra height accounts for what will settle out.
- Recheck grade after the first seasonTop up any low spots once initial settling has occurred.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the finished depth instead of the placed depthThis is the most common shortfall \u2014 always divide by the settling allowance before ordering.
- Not compacting in liftsA deep fill dumped and left loose settles unevenly and far more than a properly compacted one.
- Using fill dirt with debris near a foundationRocks, roots and construction waste create voids that cause uneven settling right where it matters most.
- Confusing fill dirt with topsoilFill dirt lacks the organic content plants need \u2014 always cap with real topsoil for anything you intend to plant.
- Grading flush to final height immediatelyWithout the settling allowance built in, the area sinks below grade within months.
- Ignoring drainage slopeFill graded flat or toward a structure sends water where it shouldn’t go.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Uniform placed depth across the whole area
- Density of roughly 2,000\u20132,300 lb/yd³ depending on fill type, as listed above
- A settling allowance you set, typically 10\u201320% depending on compaction method
- A bag size of 0.5 cubic feet, a common hardware-store size
- Bulk orders rounded up to the nearest quarter ton
- Prices are whatever you enter; they are not live market rates
Common questions
How much does fill dirt settle?
Typically 10 to 20 percent of its placed depth over the following months, depending on how well it’s compacted in lifts and how much organic material it contains.
How much fill dirt do I need for a hole?
Multiply the hole’s length, width and depth to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add a settling allowance since loosely dumped fill will compact down over time.
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?
Fill dirt is subsoil with little to no organic content, used to raise or level grade. Topsoil contains organic matter and nutrients and is meant for planting, not structural fill.
Can I use fill dirt for a garden bed?
Fill dirt works well as a lower base layer in a deep raised bed to save on topsoil cost, but the top layer where roots grow should be topsoil or a proper planting mix.
How many tons of fill dirt do I need per cubic yard?
Roughly 1 to 1.15 tons per cubic yard for typical fill dirt, since a cubic yard weighs about 2,000 to 2,300 lb depending on moisture and composition.
Should fill dirt be compacted in layers?
Yes, especially under anything load-bearing. Compacting in 4 to 6 inch lifts prevents the bottom of a deep fill from staying loose and settling unevenly later.
Is fill dirt sold by the yard or by the ton?
Most suppliers price and deliver by the ton, since trucks are weight-limited. Cubic yards are useful for working out volume, but convert to tons before requesting a quote.
Can I use fill dirt near a foundation?
Clean fill dirt is commonly used for foundation backfill, but should be compacted in lifts and graded to slope away from the structure to avoid water pooling against it.
What is clean fill dirt?
Fill dirt free of debris, roots, rocks larger than a few inches, and construction waste. Clean fill is required for most grading and backfill work, especially near structures.
How much area does a ton of fill dirt cover?
Roughly 100 to 110 sq ft at a 2 inch depth, or about 27 to 30 sq ft at a full foot deep, for typical fill dirt density.
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Fill Dirt Estimate
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Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Area | — |
| Finished depth | — |
| Placed depth to order | — |
| Fill type | — |
| Settling allowance | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons (rounded up) | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.5 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard fill dirt densities. Confirm quantities and settling rates with your supplier before ordering.