How to use it
- Enter length in feet.
- Enter width in feet.
- Enter depth in inches.
- Read cubic yards, cubic feet, and tons results.
The Cubic Foot of Dirt Calculator turns the three dimensions of your project—length, width and depth—into the exact volume of soil you’ll need. You input length and width in feet and depth in inches; the tool converts depth to feet, multiplies the three dimensions to give cubic feet, then divides by 27 to show cubic yards. Because most suppliers price dirt by the cubic yard, the calculator also multiplies the yardage by the industry‑standard 1.3 US tons per yard, giving you an approximate tonnage for ordering and budgeting. Knowing these three numbers helps you avoid costly over‑orders or shortfalls, lets you compare quotes, and makes it easy to communicate with contractors. All results appear instantly, so you can plan your landscaping or construction project with confidence.
Pro tips
- Add 10% extra for compaction and settling.
- Round up to the nearest 0.1 cubic yard for ordering.
- Order by the ton if the supplier quotes per ton.
- Double‑check depth conversion; 12 in = 1 ft.
Real-life examples
- Planning a new garden bed and need to know how much soil to order.
- Estimating fill material for a driveway repair project.
- Preparing a backyard patio and calculating dirt for leveling.
Case study
Sam entered his 12 ft × 8 ft patio area with a 6‑inch depth. The calculator showed 2.0 cubic yards, 2.6 tons, and 54 cubic feet, letting him order the right amount and avoid a $150 over‑order.