Question 1

How much fill dirt do I need?

Accepted Answer

Multiply length by width by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add 15–25% for compaction. A 30 × 20 ft area 12 inches deep needs 22 compacted cubic yards, so order about 27 loose.

Question 2

What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil?

Accepted Answer

Fill dirt is subsoil — no organic content, cheaper, and it compacts well, which is why it is used for structural filling and grading. Topsoil is the biologically active surface layer used for growing. Filling with topsoil gives you a soft area that keeps settling.

Question 3

How much does fill dirt shrink when compacted?

Accepted Answer

Fifteen to twenty-five percent depending on soil type and how it is placed. Clay shrinks most, sandy fill least. This is why fill is ordered loose and specified compacted, and the two numbers are never the same.

Question 4

How much does a yard of fill dirt weigh?

Accepted Answer

About 2,000 to 2,700 lb dry, and considerably more when wet. A 12-yard truckload is roughly 15 tons, which is why access and ground conditions matter as much as the price.

Question 5

Should I compact fill dirt in layers?

Accepted Answer

Always. Place it in lifts of 6 to 8 inches and compact each one before adding the next. A plate compactor cannot densify two feet of loose fill from the surface, and uncompacted fill settles for years afterwards.

Question 6

Can I use fill dirt against a foundation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is the right material — but slope it away from the wall at about an inch per foot for the first 6 to 10 feet. Backfilling with topsoil or organic material holds water against the foundation, which is the opposite of what you want.

Question 7

How much does fill dirt cost?

Accepted Answer

Often $5 to $20 per cubic yard delivered, and sometimes free if a nearby excavation needs somewhere to put it. Delivery frequently costs more than the material, so distance from the source dominates the price.

Question 8

Do I need a permit to add fill dirt?

Accepted Answer

Frequently, above a certain volume or depth, and almost always if the work changes drainage or sits in a floodplain. Regrading that pushes water onto a neighbour is a liability regardless of what the permit office says.

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