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Dirt Estimator Calculator

Instantly calculate how many cubic yards, cubic feet, and tons of dirt you need—free and no sign‑up.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Instant results

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How to use it

  1. Enter length in feet
  2. Enter width in feet
  3. Enter depth in inches
  4. Click Calculate to see cubic feet, cubic yards and tons

What it does – The Dirt Estimator takes the length, width and depth of a planned fill and instantly returns three useful measures: cubic feet, cubic yards, and approximate tons of material (using 1.3 US tons per cubic yard).
Why it matters – Knowing cubic yards tells you how many dump‑truck loads to order, cubic feet helps with equipment sizing, and tons let you compare supplier pricing.
How to read the numbers – Cubic feet is the raw volume; divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.3 to see the weight. Results are rounded to two decimals for easy ordering.
The calculator works for any rectangular area—garden beds, patios, or foundation pads. Just type the dimensions in feet and inches, hit Calculate, and the three results appear instantly. No guesswork, no spreadsheets.

Pro tips

  • Add 5‑10% extra volume for compaction and settling
  • Round up to the nearest half‑yard for truck ordering
  • Compare supplier quotes using the ton estimate
  • Double‑check depth entry; inches are easy to mistype

Real-life examples

  • Planning a new garden bed and need to know how much topsoil to order
  • Estimating fill for a patio slab to get accurate delivery quotes
  • Calculating dirt for a landscaping project to avoid costly over‑orders

Case study

Sam needed 2.2 cubic yards of soil for a raised garden. Using the estimator, he entered 10 ft × 12 ft × 6 in, saw 2.22 yd³ and 2.9 tons, ordered exactly that amount, and saved $150 on excess material.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert the calculator’s result to truck loads?
One standard dump truck carries about 10‑12 cubic yards; divide the cubic‑yard result by your truck’s capacity.
Why does the ton estimate differ from the supplier’s weight?
Suppliers may use a slightly different density; our estimate uses 1.3 tons per cubic yard as a common average.
Can I use the calculator for non‑rectangular areas?
Break irregular shapes into rectangles, calculate each, then add the results.
Do I need to include a safety margin?
Yes, add 5‑10% extra volume to cover compaction and settling.
Is the depth entered in inches only?
Enter the depth in inches; the calculator converts it to feet internally for accurate volume.