Dirt calculator for Nebraska
Plan fill dirt quantities in tons or cubic yards for low areas, excavations, and grading, including the settling allowance.
Enter your project dimensions
Expect loose fill dirt to drop 10-15% in height while it settles. If you order only enough for the measured hole, the surface may end up an inch or two low after the first heavy rain. For that reason, this dirt calculator has a 10% settling allowance turned on. Dry fill dirt is about 2,400 lb per cubic yard, or 1.2 tons. It is sold by the yard and is the lowest-cost material listed on this site. Use topsoil for growing areas, and see the separate topsoil calculator for that material.
How to measure a fill project
- To calculate an area, multiply its length by its width in feet and use the average amount of lift needed. For an uneven low spot, check both the deepest point and shallow edge, then use the difference between them.
- For a trench or hole, multiply the length, width, and empty depth, with every measurement in feet.
- To convert, take cubic feet and divide by 27 for yards. Multiply that result by 1.2 for tons, 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 common 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 |
About fill dirt and when not to use it
Fill dirt is the mineral subsoil below topsoil, with rocks and debris removed by screening. Its limited organic content matters because decaying organic material can cause a fill area to settle. Use it for berms, trench backfill, hole filling, and grade adjustments. Where grass or vegetables are planned, add 4-6 inches of topsoil above the fill. Save topsoil for the upper growing layer rather than the structural layer below.
Plan for settling when you order
Needing another load for the same excavation is often caused by settlement. Place fill in 6-8 inch lifts, compacting every lift. If compaction is not available, soak each layer thoroughly and give it time to settle. Set lawn repairs about a half-inch above surrounding grade so they settle even. Fills beneath slabs or footings need thinner lifts, equipment, and an engineer's compaction specification. Do not bury organic debris in fill, since wood underground can create a sinkhole after a five-year delay.
How wet weather affects dirt orders
Wet weather increases dirt weight without changing the volume you need to order. It may change when you can work it. Waterlogged fill smears instead of packing well, and moving it by wheelbarrow is difficult, so plan delivery for dry weather. A pile set on high ground sheds much of the rain. Cover it when storms are expected to get back to spreading it days sooner.
Questions about fill dirt projects
How many yards of dirt are needed?
What does a yard of fill dirt weigh?
What does fill dirt mean?
How do fill dirt and topsoil compare?
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?
More calculators
Fill dirt by the yard, delivered to your gate.
Screened fill dirt for backfill and grading, delivered across Nebraska.
