Topsoil and Fill Dirt Calculator
Estimate the topsoil or fill dirt for a rectangular area in cubic yards and tons, with an optional allowance for settling.
Volume to order
2.47 cu yd
1.89 m³
What does a topsoil and fill dirt calculator tell me?
Bulk soil is sold by the cubic yard and by the ton, but you measure a yard or a pad in feet and inches. This calculator bridges the two: multiply the area by the depth to get the volume, convert it to cubic yards, and multiply by the soil weight to get tons.
Soil also settles. What arrives loose and fluffy compacts once it is spread, walked on, and rained on, so the finished depth ends up shallower than the loose pile. The optional settling allowance adds a little extra volume so you hit your target depth after everything settles.
Pick the material to match the job. Topsoil is the darker, richer layer for lawns, beds, and planting; fill dirt is cheaper subsoil for raising grade or filling a low area and is not meant for growing. Topsoil weighs about 81 pounds per cubic foot, roughly 1.1 tons per cubic yard; fill dirt is heavier. Use your supplier’s weight when you can, since moisture changes it.
How does this calculator size topsoil and fill dirt?
Formula
Cubic yards = length x width x (depth in inches / 12) / 27. Tons = cubic feet x soil weight per cubic foot / 2000. Order amount = cubic yards x (1 + settling percent / 100).
Multiply the length, width, and depth to get the volume, then convert to cubic yards by dividing by 27. Multiply the cubic feet by the soil weight and divide by 2000 to get tons. If you add a settling percent, the order amount is the volume increased by that percent so the soil finishes at your target depth. In metric mode you enter meters and centimeters and read cubic meters and tonnes alongside cubic yards and tons.
How much extra for settling?
Loose soil compacts once it is spread and watered, so 10 to 20 percent extra is a good allowance when you need a firm, finished grade. For a light top-dress on an existing lawn you can skip it. Weight also swings with moisture: a wet load weighs noticeably more than a dry one, which is why ordering by volume is often simpler than by weight.
Topsoil or fill dirt?
Use topsoil where things will grow and fill dirt where you just need to raise the ground. For a raised pad or a low spot, put the cheaper fill dirt underneath and cap it with a few inches of topsoil. This tool covers structural topsoil and fill by weight; for bark or wood mulch spread over a garden bed, the garden mulch coverage calculator is the right one.
Example
- 1Volume20 x 10 x (4 / 12) = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd.
- 2Weight66.7 x 81.5 / 2000 = 2.72 tons.
- 3Order with 15% settling2.47 x 1.15 = 2.84 cu yd.
FAQ
How much to order, topsoil versus fill dirt, and planning for settling.
How do I figure out how much topsoil to order?
Multiply the area by the depth, convert to cubic yards, and multiply by the soil weight for tons. For a 20 by 10 ft pad at 4 in deep, that is about 2.47 cubic yards, or roughly 2.72 tons, of topsoil. To finish at 4 in after it settles, order about 2.84 cubic yards, which adds a 15% settling allowance.
What is the difference between topsoil and fill dirt?
Topsoil is the darker, nutrient-rich upper layer used for lawns, beds, and planting. Fill dirt is subsoil used to raise grade or fill a low spot; it is cheaper, packs firmer, and is not meant for growing. Use topsoil on top and fill dirt underneath for a raised pad.
Why add a settling allowance?
Loose soil is fluffy when delivered and compacts once it is spread, walked on, and watered. Adding 10 to 20 percent helps the finished surface reach the depth you planned. Skip it only if the soil will be lightly placed and not compacted.
Should I order by the yard or the ton?
Bulk soil is usually sold by the cubic yard for volume and by the ton for weight; this tool gives both so you can match the supplier. Weight varies a lot with moisture, so a wet load weighs more than a dry one. When in doubt, order by volume and confirm with the supplier.
Is this the same as the mulch calculator?
No. This tool sizes topsoil and fill dirt by weight for grading and beds. For bark or wood mulch spread over a garden bed, use the garden mulch coverage calculator instead.
Sources
1. National Soil Survey Handbook, Part 618: Soil Properties and Qualities
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Reference for soil bulk density and properties behind the typical weight-per-volume figures.
https://directives.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files2/1725389482/Part%20618%20Subpart%20A%20%E2%80%93%20General%20Information.pdf2. Conversion Factors (weights and volumes for earth materials)
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
Government conversion tables for cubic yards, tons, and bulk unit weights of soil and earth.
https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/mmd/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/ConvFctrs.pdf3. NIST Handbook 44 (current edition)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Defines the U.S. short ton and commercial weighing standards used when soil is sold by weight.
https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/nist-handbook-44-current-edition4. Gravel Tons by Area and Depth Calculator
AnswerCalc
Companion calculator for gravel and crushed stone by area and depth.
https://www.answercalc.com/en/construction/materials/gravel-tons-by-area-depth/
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