Fill Dirt Calculator — Cubic Yards to Order

How to calculate fill dirt cubic yards

Enter the area length and width in feet and the planned fill depth in inches. The calculator converts inches to feet, then cubic feet to cubic yards. The separate ordering allowance adds a percentage to the base geometric volume.

Formula: cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × [depth (in) ÷ 12] ÷ 27. Cubic yards to order = base cubic yards × (1 + allowance ÷ 100).

Example: 30 ft × 20 ft × 6 inches

Area = 600 square feet. Depth = 0.5 feet. Base volume = 600 × 0.5 ÷ 27 = 11.11 CY. With a 10% ordering allowance, the estimated order is 12.22 CY.

What does the ordering allowance cover?

The percentage is a planning adjustment for overrun, uneven grading, or small field variations. It is not a soil compaction or shrinkage calculation. Loose delivery volume, compacted in-place volume, moisture and soil type can differ substantially; confirm the required quantity and compaction factors with your supplier or project specifications.

How many tons of fill dirt is that?

Weight depends on soil density and moisture. To estimate tons from cubic yards, use the Material CY ↔ Tons Calculator with your supplier's density. Do not assume a fixed tonnage per cubic yard.

Related Yardaris calculators

• Cubic Yard Calculator — calculate volume for other materials
• Material CY ↔ Tons Calculator — estimate weight from volume
• Excavation & Swell/Shrink Calculator — plan volume changes
• Aggregate Tons Calculator — estimate aggregate tonnage

Contractor estimating tools

Once you have your fill quantity, these partner tools may help organize estimating and job planning.

Affiliate disclosure: Yardaris may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. Partner links do not affect calculator results.