Stone calculator
Dirt Calculator
Dirt is sold by the cubic yard, delivered by weight and settles once placed. Enter the area and depth for both numbers.
Your project
New lawn 4-6". Raised beds 12". Regrading, use the average lift.
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Delivered dirt / topsoil typically runs $15-$45 per ton.
Dirt / topsoil needed
10.08
US tons · includes 5% waste
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 9.33 cubic yards
- Volume (cubic feet)
- 252 cu ft
- Total weight
- 20,160 lb
- Density used
- 80 lb per cu ft (1.08 tons/yd³)
- Truckloads (15-ton)
- 1
- Estimated delivered cost
- $302
Quarry densities vary by source and moisture. Confirm tons per cubic yard with your supplier before placing a bulk order — a 10% density difference is a whole extra load on a big job.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
What dirt / topsoil is
Screened topsoil weighs roughly 2,000-2,200 lb per cubic yard dry and considerably more wet — soil density swings more with moisture than any aggregate. Fill dirt is heavier and cheaper; garden blends with compost are lighter and dearer.
At 80 lb per cubic foot, one cubic yard weighs about 1.08 US tons, and one ton spread 2" deep covers roughly 150 square feet.
How to install it
Spread in lifts no deeper than 6 inches and water each lift lightly if you want it to settle now rather than in the spring. Topsoil placed loose loses 10-20% of its volume to settlement.
The mistake that costs the most
Ordering exactly the calculated volume for a lawn. Between settlement and the low spots you did not notice, most jobs run 10-15% over. Order the extra — a second delivery costs a full haul fee for a fraction of a load.
The math behind the calculator
Square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) = cubic feet. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Cubic feet × 80 ÷ 2,000 = US tons. The waste allowance is applied to the volume before the weight conversion, which is how suppliers quote it.
Dirt / topsoil needed per 100 square feet
At 80 lb per cubic foot, before waste.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.33 |
| 2" | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.67 |
| 3" | 25 | 0.93 | 1 |
| 4" | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.33 |
| 6" | 50 | 1.85 | 2 |
| 12" | 100 | 3.7 | 4 |
Recommended depth by application
| Application | Depth |
|---|---|
| Overseeding topdress | 1/4-1/2" |
| New lawn topsoil | 4-6" |
| Garden / planting beds | 8-12" |
| Raised bed fill | 12-18" |
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of dirt / topsoil do I need?
Multiply square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then multiply by 80 and divide by 2,000. A 500 sq ft area at 6" needs about 10 tons before waste.
+How many tons of dirt / topsoil are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.08 tons at 80 lb per cubic foot. Wet material weighs 5-10% more, which matters when you are buying by the ton and measuring by the yard.
+How deep should dirt / topsoil be?
Overseeding topdress: 1/4-1/2". New lawn topsoil: 4-6". Garden / planting beds: 8-12". Raised bed fill: 12-18".
+What does dirt / topsoil cost?
$15 – $45 per ton delivered in most US markets, before the haul fee. Short loads carry a minimum charge, so half a load often costs nearly as much as a full one.