Dirt calculator for Illinois
Estimate fill dirt in cubic yards or tons for low spots, excavations, and grading, with settlement factored into the total.
Enter your project dimensions
Placed loose, fill dirt may settle 10 to 15% in height. If the order only matches the measured hole, the surface can end up an inch or two short after the first hard rain. For that reason, this calculator leaves its 10% settling allowance turned on. Dry fill dirt is about 2,400 lb per cubic yard dry (1.2 tons) and sold by the yard, and it is the cheapest material on this site. It is not intended for growing plants, so use topsoil instead, as covered in its separate calculator.
Planning a fill project
- For an area, multiply its length by width in feet, then multiply by the average amount of raise. Since low areas are uneven, note the deepest location and shallowest edge, then use the midpoint.
- For a trench or hole, multiply the empty length, width, and depth, using feet for each measurement.
- Convert cubic feet to yards by dividing by 27, calculate tons by multiplying by 1.2, and keep the settling allowance 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: uses and limitations
Fill dirt is subsoil, the mineral material beneath active topsoil, with rock and debris screened out. Its low organic content helps it retain grade, since organic material decays and settles. Use it for berms, trench backfill, hole filling, and grade adjustments. Where grass or vegetables will grow, place 4 to 6 inches of topsoil above the fill. Use topsoil only for the upper growing layer rather than the structural material below.
Addressing settling when you order
A repeat load for the same excavation often comes down to settlement. Install fill in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting every lift, or at least soak each layer and allow it to consolidate. For lawn repairs, leave the grade about a half-inch high so it settles flush. Structural fill below slabs or footings requires thinner lifts, equipment, and an engineer's compaction specification. Exclude organic debris from fill: buried wood can decay into a sinkhole after a five-year delay.
How wet conditions affect fill orders
Rain changes fill dirt's weight, not its volume, so the order amount remains the same. It may change the work schedule: wet fill smears instead of compacting, and moving it by wheelbarrow is difficult. Plan delivery for dry weather. A pile set on high ground sheds most rainfall; cover it when storms are expected to make spreading possible days sooner.
Fill dirt answers for project planning
What yardage of dirt is needed?
What does one yard of fill dirt weigh?
Definition of fill dirt
How do fill dirt and topsoil differ?
How much dirt is required for a hole?
Where to purchase fill dirt
What fits in a dump truck?
Is compaction needed for fill dirt?
Other calculators
Fill dirt by the yard, delivered to your gate.
Screened fill dirt for backfill and grading, delivered across Illinois.
