Dirt calculator for Mississippi
Calculate fill dirt volumes for low areas, excavations, and grading in cubic yards and tons, including expected settlement.
Enter your project dimensions
Loose fill commonly settles by 10 to 15% in depth. If you buy only the volume of the measured excavation, the surface may wind up an inch or two low after the first hard rain. For that reason, the calculator applies a 10% settlement allowance. Dry material weighs around 2,400 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.2 tons, and is sold by the yard. Do not use it where plants need to grow; use the separate topsoil calculator instead.
How to measure fill work
- For a raised area, multiply the length by the width in feet and then by the average raise. Since low places are uneven, check the deepest spot and shallow edge, then use the midpoint.
- For a trench or excavation, multiply the void's length, width, and depth, using feet for each measurement.
- Take the cubic-foot total, divide it by 27 for yards, multiply by 1.2 for tons, and keep the settling factor 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 |
Yardage for typical fill work
| 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: proper uses and limits
Fill dirt comes from the mineral subsoil beneath living topsoil and is screened free of rock and debris. It needs little organic material because organic matter breaks down and settles, while structural fill needs to hold its grade. Use fill dirt for berms, trench backfill, holes, and grade adjustments. Where grass or vegetables will grow, cap the fill with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil instead of using topsoil for the layer below.
Plan for settling when ordering
When a hole needs another load, settlement is usually the reason. Install the material in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting every lift. If compaction equipment is not available, soak each layer thoroughly and allow it to settle. On lawn repairs, leave the finish about a half-inch high so it settles even with the surrounding ground. Fill below footings or slabs needs thinner lifts, equipment, and an engineer's compaction specification. Keep wood and other organic matter out of the fill. As it decays, it can leave a void over a five-year period.
How rain affects fill orders
Wet weather does not change the volume to order, though rain does make the dirt heavier. It can delay the work because saturated fill smears instead of compacting, and moving it by wheelbarrow is miserable. Plan delivery for dry conditions. A pile set high drains off much of the rain, but cover it when storms are expected so it can be spread sooner.
Questions from job sites
How many yards of dirt are needed?
What does one yard of fill dirt weigh?
What does fill dirt mean?
How is fill dirt different from topsoil?
How much dirt fills a hole?
Where do I get fill dirt?
How much fits in a dump truck?
Is compaction needed for fill dirt?
Other calculators
Fill dirt by the yard, with free delivery to your gate.
Screened fill dirt for backfill and grading, delivered throughout Mississippi.
