How to use the Fill Dirt Calculator
Select Rectangle, Known Area, Circle or Triangle, then enter footprint and your chosen uniform fill depth.
Keep No Conversion to apply no loose/in-place relationship, or enter your own positive factor. Extra allowance remains separate.
Optional volume capacity plans truckloads. Optional volume and per-truck prices provide separate quote comparisons.
Calculating target fill volume
Geometric fill volume equals measured footprint area times uniform chosen depth. Rectangle uses length × width, Circle uses π × (diameter ÷ 2)², and Triangle uses half the base times its perpendicular height. Known Area accepts a measured area directly. Imperial uses ft and in; Metric uses m and cm.
Target project volume = geometric fill volume + your optional extra allowance. Extra = geometric volume × allowance percentage ÷ 100. Extra starts at zero; no percentage or fill depth is recommended.
Target in-place fill vs loose order volume
Target in-place fill volume describes the space you plan to fill. Material ordered loose can have a different volume relationship depending on product and condition. This calculator does not predict achieved compaction or settlement.
No loose/in-place conversion applied means BuiltTally uses target project volume directly as estimated order volume. It is not a claim that the material has no shrink or swell. Enter a factor only when you have an applicable project/material-specific relationship.
What the loose-order factor means
Estimated order volume = target project volume × entered loose-order factor. A hypothetical factor of 1.20 means 1.20 units ordered loose per 1.00 unit of target in-place volume. The factor stays unchanged when you switch units, and it never changes geometry or allowance.
The factor is blank initially. The hypothetical value demonstrates arithmetic only; it is not typical, verified or recommended for fill dirt. No presets or compaction/shrink/swell percentage modes are published. Other positive relationships, including values below one, are accepted.
Truckloads, supplied volume and overage
Exact truckload equivalent = estimated order volume ÷ entered usable volume capacity. Whole truckloads round that full-precision count upward. Supplied volume = whole truckloads × entered capacity. Truck overage = supplied volume − estimated order volume. Target and order volumes remain unchanged by truck rounding.
Capacity is blank until you enter usable yd³/truck or m³/truck. Confirm the capacity and any payload/transport restrictions with the hauler; this volume plan does not model mass limits. No truck capacity is a standard or default.
Volume-priced and truck-priced estimates
Volume-priced estimate = estimated order volume × your price per yd³ or m³. Truck-priced estimate = whole truckloads × your entered USD/truck. The latter can represent whatever the user-entered quote covers. The two estimates may be alternative supplier structures and are never summed, ranked or recommended.
Tax, delivery, fuel surcharge, minimum order, disposal, spreading, grading labor, equipment and testing are not independently added unless already included in your entered price. Unit switching preserves the equivalent volume quote and physical truck capacity; USD/truck remains unchanged.
Geometry, order factor and truck examples
Geometry: 30 ft × 12 ft × 6 in. Depth = 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft; volume = 30 × 12 × 0.5 = 180 ft³; 180 ÷ 27 = 6.666666… yd³, displayed 6.67 yd³. Six inches is example input only, not a recommended fill depth.
Separate factor example: target project volume 10 yd³ × entered factor 1.20 = 12 yd³ estimated order volume. The factor is hypothetical and demonstrates the calculation only.
Separate truck example: order 12 yd³ ÷ entered capacity 5 yd³/truck = 2.4 loads. Whole trucks = 3; supplied volume = 3 × 5 = 15 yd³; truck overage = 15 − 12 = 3 yd³. Five cubic yards is a hypothetical capacity, not a standard truck. The order volume stays 12 yd³.
Fill Dirt vs Dirt vs Topsoil
Fill Dirt serves grading and backfill target/order volume planning. Use the Dirt Calculator for generic dirt volume and density-based estimated weight. Use the Topsoil Calculator for lawn, garden and planting quantity and purchasing. The Cubic Yard Calculator provides material-neutral volume. Confirm the material required by your own project; this page does not classify products.
Fill dirt calculator FAQ
How much fill dirt do I need?
Measure the footprint and uniform chosen fill depth, then calculate the target in-place volume. Add only your optional extra for site variation, handling or grading tolerance. Use your own applicable loose-order factor if your order needs a volume-condition conversion.
What is target in-place volume?
It is the planned space to fill, calculated from your geometry and chosen depth, with optional extra shown separately. It is not a prediction of achieved compaction, settlement or finished material performance.
What is a loose-order factor?
It is the loose order volume you want to allow for per one unit of target volume. Estimated order volume equals target project volume times your factor. Positive values below one are allowed; the calculator does not classify your material or supply a recommended ratio.
Does BuiltTally assume a compaction factor?
No. No Conversion is selected initially, so estimated order volume equals target project volume and no loose/in-place conversion is applied. Factor mode requires your own value. No compaction, shrink, swell or settlement percentage is assumed or published.
How are truckloads calculated?
Divide estimated order volume by your entered usable volume capacity per truck. Round upward for whole truckloads. Supplied volume equals whole trucks times capacity; overage equals supplied volume minus estimated order volume. Truck rounding does not replace the target or order volume.
Can I leave the loose-order factor blank?
Yes in No Conversion mode, which applies no material conversion. If you select Loose-order Factor, a positive finite value is required before order volume, truckloads or order-based prices can be estimated. Your valid target geometry remains available.
Is Fill Dirt different from the Dirt Calculator?
Fill Dirt focuses on grading/backfill target volume and a separate optional loose-order relationship. Dirt serves generic dirt quantity with optional user-entered density and weight planning. Topsoil serves lawn, garden and planting purchasing.
Does this calculator estimate tons of fill dirt?
This tool focuses on target and order volumes without adding a condition-sensitive density assumption. Use the separate Dirt Calculator with a density supplied for your own material and condition if you need an estimated weight. No fill-dirt density is assumed here.