Dirt calculator for Iowa
Calculate fill dirt for grading, depressions, and excavations in cubic yards or tons, including settlement in the total.
Enter your project dimensions
Expect loose fill dirt to settle 10 to 15% in height. If you order only the volume of the measured excavation, the surface can end up an inch or two below grade after the first hard rain. For that reason, this calculator has its 10% allowance enabled. Dry fill dirt weighs about 2,400 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.2 tons, and is sold in yard quantities. Use topsoil instead for growing areas; its calculator covers that material separately.
How to measure fill work
- Measure the length and width of an area in feet, then use the average depth being added. For an uneven low area, take a depth at the deep end and another at the shallow edge, then use the midpoint.
- Measure a hole or trench in feet, using its length, width, and depth, then multiply those dimensions.
- For cubic yards, take cubic feet and divide by 27; for tons, multiply by 1.2. Leave the settling allowance enabled.
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: uses and limitations
Below the topsoil lies fill dirt, a screened mineral subsoil with rock and debris removed. It contains little organic material by design: organic matter breaks down and settles, while a low-organic fill is more likely to retain its finished grade. Use it to reshape grades, fill excavations, backfill trenches, or form berms. Where grass or vegetables will be planted, finish with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil on top. The structural layer below does not need topsoil.
Planning for settlement before ordering
A filled excavation commonly needs more material later because settling continues. Place the dirt in 6 to 8 inch lifts, compacting each lift as it goes. If compaction is not available, soak each lift thoroughly and allow it to consolidate. For lawn patches, leave the surface about a half-inch above surrounding grade so it can settle flush. Fill beneath slabs or footings needs an engineer's compaction specification, smaller lifts, and proper equipment. Keep wood and other organic debris out, since buried material can decay into a sinkhole after a five-year delay.
How wet conditions affect fill orders
Rain increases weight without changing volume, so it does not alter the quantity ordered. It can affect scheduling. Saturated fill smears rather than compacts, and handling it by wheelbarrow is difficult, so plan delivery during a dry period. A high pile sheds much of the rain, but cover it when storms approach to make spreading possible 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?
What separates fill dirt from topsoil?
How much dirt fills a hole?
Where do I buy fill dirt?
How many yards fit in a dump truck?
Should fill dirt be compacted?
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Fill dirt for grading and backfill, delivered across Iowa.
