How to use it
- Enter length in feet
- Enter width in feet
- Enter depth in inches
- Click calculate
This calculator converts your project dimensions into cubic yards, cubic feet, and estimated tons of dirt. Why it matters: ordering too little delays your project; ordering too much wastes money. The result tells you exactly how much material to request from suppliers.
The weight estimate uses 1.3 US tons per cubic yard — a standard density for average topsoil and fill dirt. Your cubic feet result helps visualize the volume; cubic yards match what suppliers quote; tons help with delivery planning.
Depth in inches accounts for common landscaping measurements. If your area is irregular, break it into rectangles and calculate each separately, then add the cubic yards together. Always round up slightly when ordering — suppliers often sell by the half-yard minimum.
Pro tips
- Add 10% waste allowance for settling and spillage
- Round depth up to the nearest inch before calculating
- Order by the half-yard minimum — round up to avoid shortfalls
- Don't confuse cubic feet with cubic yards — divide by 27
Real-life examples
- Filling a new garden bed before planting season
- Estimating fill dirt for a patio base preparation
- Calculating topsoil needed for lawn grading and leveling
Case study
Maria needed dirt for a 20×15 ft garden bed at 6 inches deep. She used the calculator and got 5.56 cubic yards, 7.2 tons. She ordered 6 yards to be safe, avoided two delivery trips, and finished the weekend project on budget.