Dirt calculator for Kansas
Estimate fill dirt by cubic yards and tons for grade work, holes, and low areas, with settling factored into the result.
Enter your project dimensions
As loose fill settles, its depth can drop 10 to 15%. If you buy only the amount measured for the hole, the surface may end up an inch or two short after the first hard rain. This calculator therefore keeps a 10% settling allowance active. Dry fill dirt weighs about 2,400 lb per cubic yard, or 1.2 tons, and is sold by the yard. Use topsoil instead for planting areas; it has a separate calculator.
Planning a fill project
- To measure an area, multiply its length and width in feet by the average depth being added. For an uneven low spot, measure both the deepest area and shallow edge, then use the midpoint.
- Measure the void in feet, then calculate its length multiplied by width multiplied by depth for trenches and holes.
- For cubic yards, divide cubic feet by 27; for tons, multiply by 1.2. Leave the settling allowance enabled.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.2 · +10% for settling is on by default
Coverage and weight
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt (dry) | ≈ 2,400 lb | 1.20 |
| Fill dirt (wet) | up to 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| Topsoil, for comparison | ≈ 2,200 lb | 1.10 |
| Depth of fill | 1 cubic yard covers | 5 yards cover |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 810 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 405 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 270 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | 135 sq ft |
Typical fill work and yardage
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raise a low lawn area | 20 x 20 ft | 4" | 4.9 yd³ | 5.9 tons |
| Level a settled depression | 15 x 15 ft, avg 6" | 6" | 4.2 yd³ | 5 tons |
| Backfill a utility trench | 25 ft x 2 ft | 18" | 2.8 yd³ | 3.3 tons |
| Build a landscape berm | 20 x 6 ft | 12" | 4.4 yd³ | 5.3 tons |
| Backfill along a foundation | 60 ft x 2 ft | 10" | 3.7 yd³ | 4.4 tons |
Fill dirt uses and limits
Fill dirt is the mineral subsoil below the active topsoil layer, with rock and debris screened out. It contains little organic material by design, since decaying organic matter can settle and alter the grade. Use it for berms, trench backfill, hole repair, and grade adjustments. Grass and vegetable areas need 4 to 6 inches of topsoil above the fill, rather than using topsoil in the structural layer.
Allowing for settlement when ordering
Install fill in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting every lift. If compaction equipment is not used, soak each layer well and allow it to consolidate. Set lawn repairs about a half-inch above grade so they can settle level. Fill below slabs or footings requires thinner lifts, equipment, and an engineer's compaction specification. Exclude organic debris from fill because buried wood can form a sinkhole on a five-year delay.
How wet weather affects fill dirt
Rain changes fill weight, not its volume, so the quantity ordered stays the same. It can affect timing. Saturated fill smears rather than compacts and makes wheelbarrow work difficult, so schedule delivery during a dry period. A high pile sheds much of the rain, but covering it when storms approach can make it ready to spread days sooner.
Fill dirt answers for project planning
What amount of dirt is needed?
What is the weight of a yard of fill dirt?
Understanding fill dirt
How do fill dirt and topsoil compare?
Calculating dirt for a hole
Buying fill dirt
Dump truck fill dirt capacity
Is compaction needed for fill dirt?
Other calculators
Priced by the yard, with free delivery to your gate.
Screened fill dirt for grading and backfill, with delivery across Kansas.
