Dirt calculator for Minnesota
Estimate fill dirt for grading, low areas, and holes in cubic yards or tons, including settling in the total.
Enter your project dimensions
As loose fill settles, it can drop 10 to 15% in height. If you buy only the measured volume, the first hard rain may leave the area an inch or two below grade. For that reason, this calculator has a 10% settling factor turned on. Dry fill dirt is roughly 2,400 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.2 tons, and it is sold by the yard. Do not use it for planting. Use topsoil instead, as explained in the separate calculator.
How to measure fill work
- For an area, multiply its feet of length by its feet of width and then by the average amount being raised. On an uneven low spot, check both the deepest area and shallow edge, then use the midpoint.
- For a trench or hole, use its inside length, width, and depth in feet and multiply them together.
- To convert cubic feet to yards, divide by 27. For tons, multiply by 1.2, and keep the settling allowance selected.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.2 · +10% for settling is on by default
Coverage and material 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 projects and yard amounts
| 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 when to choose something else
Fill dirt comes from the mineral subsoil below topsoil and is screened free of rock and debris. It has little organic material by design. Organics decay and cause settling, while structural fill with less organic matter holds grade better. Use it for berms, trench backfill, hole repairs, and grade adjustments. Where grass or vegetables will be planted, cover the fill with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil. Use fill for the supporting layer rather than topsoil.
Plan for settling before ordering
A follow-up load for the same excavation usually traces back to settling. Install fill in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting every lift. If compaction is not available, soak each layer and allow it to consolidate. For lawn patches, finish about a half-inch above surrounding grade so it can settle level. Fill below slabs or footings requires thinner lifts, equipment, and an engineer's compaction spec. Keep organic debris out of fill: buried wood can leave a sinkhole after a five-year delay.
Ordering dirt in wet conditions
Wet weather changes the weight of fill, not the volume needed, so the order amount stays the same. It may affect timing. Waterlogged fill will smear instead of compacting, and moving it by wheelbarrow is difficult, so plan for dry conditions. Keep the pile raised to shed rain, and cover it when storms are forecast so it can be spread sooner.
Fill dirt answers for common jobs
What amount of dirt is needed?
What is the weight of one yard of fill dirt?
Fill dirt explained
How do fill dirt and topsoil differ?
How much dirt does a hole take?
Where to get fill dirt
Dump truck fill capacity
Is fill dirt compaction necessary?
Other calculators
Fill dirt by the yard, delivered to your gate.
Screened fill dirt for backfill and grading, with delivery throughout Minnesota.
