Soil Calculator
Measure it. Before you move it.
Cubic yards, planning tons, and truck counts — built for Texas contractors who price by the load.
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How to calculate soil for your project
Cubic yards explained
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. For any rectangular area, multiply the length (ft) by width (ft) by depth (ft) and divide by 27. A 120 x 40 foot pad at 6 inches deep needs (120 x 40 x 0.5) / 27 = 88.9 cubic yards before waste or compaction adjustments.
For acreage, one acre is 43,560 square feet. A 13.75-acre site at 2 feet of fill needs (13.75 x 43,560 x 2) / 27 = 44,367 cubic yards. At 15 cy per truck, that is roughly 2,958 loads.
Waste allowance and compaction
Waste allowance accounts for material lost during transport, spreading, and grading. A 10% allowance is standard for most commercial projects. Compaction is the percentage the soil compresses under mechanical effort. Structural fills typically require 95% Standard Proctor density, which can mean 15-25% additional loose material to reach the compacted volume.
Soil density by material
| Material | Density (tons/cy) | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Fill dirt | 1.15 to 1.35 | Grading, pads, backfill |
| Topsoil | 1.00 to 1.25 | Final grade, landscaping |
| Select fill | 1.20 to 1.40 | Structural, building pads |
| Sand | 1.25 to 1.45 | Bedding, drainage, concrete |
Acres to cubic yards conversion
| Acres | Depth | Cubic yards | Trucks (15 cy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 inches | 807 | 54 |
| 1 | 1 foot | 1,613 | 108 |
| 5 | 1 foot | 8,067 | 538 |
| 5 | 2 feet | 16,133 | 1,076 |
| 10 | 2 feet | 32,267 | 2,151 |
| 13.75 | 2 feet | 44,367 | 2,958 |
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