Ordering too little fill dirt means a second delivery, a second delivery fee, and a project that stalls mid-progress. Ordering too much means paying for material you don't need and finding somewhere to put the extra pile. After moving over a million yards of dirt across DFW and Denver, we've seen both mistakes plenty of times. Here's how to get it right the first time.
The Basic Formula: Length x Width x Depth / 27
Fill dirt is sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard is a 3-foot x 3-foot x 3-foot cube — 27 cubic feet of material. To calculate how many cubic yards you need, measure your area in feet: length x width x depth. Then divide by 27.
For example, if you need to fill an area 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 2 feet deep: 20 x 10 x 2 = 400 cubic feet. Divide by 27 = 14.8 cubic yards. Round up to 15 yards, then add your compaction buffer (more on that below).
Always measure in feet — not inches, not yards. If your depth is in inches, divide by 12 first. A 6-inch layer is 0.5 feet. A 4-inch layer is 0.33 feet.
Common Project Yard Estimates
While every project is different, these ranges are based on thousands of deliveries we've completed across DFW and Denver. Use them as a starting reference before you run your own calculation.
| Project Type | Typical Yards Needed |
|---|---|
| Pool removal (in-ground, average size) | 40–60 yards |
| Yard leveling (2,000 sq ft, 1 ft deep) | ~74 yards |
| Driveway base or extension | 5–10 yards |
| French drain backfill | 2–5 yards |
| Foundation backfill | 10–30 yards |
| Retaining wall backfill | 5–15 yards |
| Raised garden bed fill (4x8, 12 inches deep) | 1–2 yards |
| Sinkhole or large low-spot fill | 5–20 yards |
These numbers assume standard residential dimensions. A 2,000-square-foot yard leveled 1 foot deep works out to 2,000 cubic feet, divided by 27 = 74 yards before compaction adjustment. That's a lot of dirt — and exactly why getting the math right matters before you commit to a number.
How Much Area Does One Cubic Yard Cover?
If you already know your depth, this is the fastest way to size a job. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so coverage is simply 324 divided by your depth in inches.
| Depth | Area Covered by 1 Cubic Yard | Common Use at This Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | Topdressing an established lawn |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | Topsoil under new sod |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | Light grade correction |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | Topsoil layer for seeding a new lawn |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | Standard leveling lift, driveway subbase |
| 8 inches | 40 sq ft | Loose lift before compaction |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | Deep fill, building pad raises |
Cubic Yards Needed by Area and Depth
Find your square footage down the left, your depth across the top. These are loose volumes — add your compaction buffer on top of whatever you read off this table.
| Area | 1 inch deep | 3 inches | 6 inches | 12 inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.3 yd | 0.9 yd | 1.9 yd | 3.7 yd |
| 500 sq ft | 1.5 yd | 4.6 yd | 9.3 yd | 18.5 yd |
| 1,000 sq ft | 3.1 yd | 9.3 yd | 18.5 yd | 37.0 yd |
| 2,000 sq ft | 6.2 yd | 18.5 yd | 37.0 yd | 74.1 yd |
| 5,000 sq ft | 15.4 yd | 46.3 yd | 92.6 yd | 185.2 yd |
Note that anything under our 10-cubic-yard minimum still gets billed as a 10-yard load. If your calculation lands at 4 yards, you are ordering 10 — so it is worth looking around the property for a second low spot to use the balance on.
The 10-15% Compaction Rule
Loose fill dirt compacts when it settles, when it gets rained on, and especially when you mechanically compact it. Depending on the material and how it's placed, you can lose 10-15% of the volume after compaction. If your calculation says you need 50 yards, order 55-58 yards to account for this.
The compaction factor is higher for structural applications where you're using a plate compactor or roller. For loose backfill that will settle on its own, 10% is usually sufficient. For compacted structural fill under a slab or driveway, go with 15%.
How to Measure Irregular Areas
Most yards and project areas aren't perfect rectangles. Here's how to handle real-world shapes:
Triangular areas: Measure the base and height, multiply together, divide by 2, then multiply by depth and divide by 27. Formula: (base x height / 2) x depth / 27.
Circular areas (pool holes, round planters): Measure the diameter, divide by 2 to get the radius, then use: 3.14 x radius x radius x depth / 27.
Irregular shapes: Break the area into smaller rectangles and triangles. Calculate each section separately, then add them together. It doesn't have to be perfect — getting within 10% is good enough when you're already adding a compaction buffer.
Sloped areas: Measure the depth at the deepest point and the shallowest point. Average them: (deep + shallow) / 2. Use that average depth in your formula. For a yard that's 18 inches low on one end and 0 inches on the other, your average depth is 9 inches (0.75 feet).
Use Our Free Calculator
If you'd rather not do the math by hand, use our free fill dirt calculator at filldirtnearme.net/calculator. Enter your dimensions, select your material type, and it calculates the yards needed, recommends a truck size, and shows you the delivered price instantly. It accounts for compaction automatically.
When the Math Gets Complicated
Some projects don't lend themselves to simple formulas. Pool removals involve complex shapes with varying depths and shelves. Foundation work may require specific material depths per engineering plans. Large grading projects across uneven terrain need a surveyor's cut-and-fill analysis. Multi-phase projects where fill goes in over weeks need to account for weather settling between loads.
For any of these situations, text us at (469) 253-2403 with your project details — photos, dimensions, whatever you have. After 10+ years and over a million yards delivered, we can usually estimate within a few yards just from a description and photos. We'd rather help you get the number right upfront than deliver the wrong quantity.
Quick Reference: Yards Per Truck and What a Load Costs
Once you know your total yards, here's how that translates to deliveries — and to dollars. Our minimum order is 10 yards, which is one tandem load. Delivery is included in every price below.
| Truck Type | Capacity | DFW Clean Fill | DFW Topsoil | Denver Clean Fill | Denver Topsoil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tandem dump truck | 10 cu yd | $100 | $170 | $150 | $220 |
| Tri-axle dump truck | 16 cu yd | $160 | $272 | $240 | $352 |
| End dump trailer | 18 cu yd | $180 | $306 | $270 | $396 |
| Side dump trailer | 18 cu yd | $180 | $306 | $270 | $396 |
Round your final number up to a load boundary where you can. Ordering 30 yards and ordering 32 yards both take two tri-axle trips, so you may as well keep the extra two yards. Full pricing by material is in our Texas cost guide and Colorado cost guide. We'll help you pick the truck configuration that minimizes trips for your site access.
The Bottom Line
Measure in feet. Multiply length x width x depth. Divide by 27. Add 10-15% for compaction. Round up to the nearest sensible truck load. If you're unsure, order slightly more — leftover fill dirt is easy to use around the property, but running short mid-project means paying for another delivery. Use our calculator or text us at (469) 253-2403 and we'll run the numbers for you.