Dirt calculator for New Mexico
Plan fill dirt quantities in tons or cubic yards for grading, holes, and low areas, including settling in the calculation.
Enter your project dimensions
Loose fill dirt can settle 10 to 15% in height. If you order only enough for the measured hole, the first hard rain can leave it an inch or two below grade. That is why the calculator includes a 10% settling allowance. Dry fill dirt weighs about 2,400 lb per cubic yard, or 1.2 tons, and is sold in yards. Use topsoil instead for planting, as explained in the separate topsoil calculator.
How to measure fill areas
- Measure the area's length and width in feet, then multiply by the average amount it needs to be raised. For a low area with changing depth, check its deepest point and its shallowest edge, then average those measurements.
- For a trench or hole, measure the empty space in feet and multiply length by width by depth.
- First divide the cubic-foot total by 27 to find yards. Multiply by 1.2 to estimate 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 |
Fill dirt uses and limits
Fill dirt comes from the subsoil layer beneath topsoil and is screened to take out rock and debris. It contains little organic matter, which matters because decaying organic material can cause fill to settle. Use it for grade adjustments, berms, trench backfill, and filling holes. For grass or vegetables, place 4 to 6 inches of topsoil over the fill. Use topsoil only for the growing surface rather than the structural material below.
Plan for settling when you order
Settling can mean ordering another load for the same hole. Install fill in 6 to 8 inch layers, compacting every layer. At a minimum, soak each layer and give it time to consolidate. Set lawn repairs about a half-inch above the surrounding grade so they settle level. Fills below slabs or footings need an engineer's compaction spec, thinner lifts, and equipment. Keep organic debris out, since buried wood can create a sinkhole on a five-year delay.
How wet weather affects fill orders
Wet weather makes fill heavier, but it does not alter the amount you need. It can change your work plans. Waterlogged fill is hard to compact and unpleasant to move in a wheelbarrow, so plan delivery during dry weather. Keep the pile on high ground so it drains, and cover it before monsoon storms if you will be spreading it soon.
Fill dirt answers for project planning
How many yards of dirt are needed?
What does a yard of fill dirt weigh?
What does fill dirt mean?
How does fill dirt differ from topsoil?
How much dirt fills a hole?
Where to get fill dirt
How many yards fit in a dump truck?
Should fill dirt be compacted?
Other calculators
Fill dirt by the yard, delivered to your gate at no delivery charge.
Screened fill dirt for grading and backfill, with delivery across New Mexico.
