Structural Fill Dirt & Swell/Shrinkage Calculator

Estimate fill dirt volume with compaction factor for deep holes and site grading.

Interactive Material & Cost Estimator

Density: 2,400 lbs/yd³ (1.20 tons/yd³)

1. Select Project Area Shape

Length (Feet)

Width (Feet)

Desired Depth (Inches)

Waste / Cut / Compaction Buffer

2. Select Package / Unit Size

Price / Unit ($)

Bulk / yd³ ($)

Delivery ($)

Estimated Material Needed 400 sq ft @ 12" depth (+20% buffer)

Bulk Volume (Cubic Yards) 17.78 480.0 cubic feet

Estimated Total Weight 21.33 US Tons (42,667 lbs)

Store Bag Count 640 bags

Pallet Estimate (56 bags) ~11.43 pallets

Estimated Project Material Cost Bulk Saves $1,061

Retail Package Total $1600.00 Before local sales tax

Bulk + Truck Delivery $539.44 Includes $95 delivery

Instant pre-calculated material estimates for common US residential project sizes before compaction buffer:

Typical US Project	Area	Depth	Volume	Weight	Store Bags
Deep Hole / Low Spot (15 ft × 15 ft)	225 sq ft	12 inches	10.0 cu yd	12.0 tons (24,000 lbs)	Bulk Delivery Required

Compacted Fill = Geometric Volume × (1 + Compaction Shrinkage %)

Loose fill dirt hauled in by dump trucks settles significantly when compacted. A 20% compaction factor ensures you do not run short.

Never dump 3 feet of fill dirt all at once. Compact dirt in maximum 6-inch lifts using a mechanical tamper to prevent future sinkholes.

Loose soil contains 30-50% air pockets; heavy equipment or rain compresses these voids.