Dirt calculator for Delaware
Plan fill dirt quantities for grading, depressions, and excavations in cubic yards or tons, including the expected settling.
Enter your project dimensions
Fill dirt may settle 10 to 15% after it is placed. Ordering only the amount measured in the excavation can leave you an inch or two short after the first heavy rain, so the calculator includes a 10% settling allowance. A dry cubic yard weighs about 2,400 lb, or 1.2 tons, and material is sold in yards. For planting areas, use topsoil instead; see the separate topsoil calculator.
How to measure fill work
- Measure the length and width of an area in feet, then multiply by the average height you need to build up. For an uneven low spot, check the deepest spot and the shallow outer edge, then use the midpoint between them.
- Measure each void in feet, then multiply its depth by its width and length for holes or trenches.
- To change cubic feet into yards, divide by 27. For tons, multiply the yard total 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 explained and when not to use it
Fill dirt comes from the mineral subsoil below the active topsoil and is screened free of rock and debris. Its limited organic content is intentional: organic material breaks down and drops, while low-organic structural fill is more likely to hold its grade. Use it for berms, backfilled trenches, filled holes, and grade adjustments. Areas for grass or vegetables need 4-6 inches of topsoil on top of the fill, so reserve topsoil for that upper growing layer.
Plan for settling before ordering
With dirt, settlement often means ordering another load for the same excavation. Place it in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting each lift. If compaction is not available, soak every lift well and give it time to settle. For lawn patches, finish roughly a half-inch above grade so the surface settles even. Beneath slabs or footings, deep structural fill needs thinner, equipment-compacted lifts that meet the engineer's specification. Keep organics out of the fill, since wood buried below grade can decay and create a sinkhole five years later.
How wet conditions affect fill orders
Wet weather changes the weight of fill, not the amount you need to order. It can change the work plan, since saturated material smears instead of packing and makes wheelbarrow work unpleasant. Try to set delivery for dry weather. Keep the pile elevated, where it will shed much of the rain, and cover it when storms approach so it is ready to spread sooner.
Fill dirt answers for common projects
How many yards of dirt are needed?
What does a yard of fill dirt weigh?
What does fill dirt mean?
How do fill dirt and topsoil compare?
How much fill goes in a hole?
Where do I get fill dirt?
How much dirt fits in a dump truck?
Should fill dirt be compacted?
Other calculators
Fill dirt ordering and delivery.
Screened fill dirt for grading and backfill, with delivery across Delaware.
