Filler up - Step-by-Step: How to Calculate It for Your Project === mcre1

To calculate cubic yards of fill dirt needed, use this straightforward formula:

$$V = \frac{L \times W \times D}{27}$$

Where:

• $V$ = Volume in cubic yards
• $L$ = Length in feet
• $W$ = Width in feet
• $D$ = Average depth (or height) of fill needed in feet

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so you always divide the total cubic feet by 27.

Step-by-Step: How to Calculate It for Your Project

1. Figure out the area that needs raising Measure (or scale from the site plan, like sheet C1) the length and width of the zone you want to bring up.
   • For a simple rectangular building pad + parking area, just use overall dimensions.
   • For irregular shapes (most real sites), break it into rectangles, or use the average depth across the whole area.
2. Determine the average depth of fill needed This is the key number from your grading plan (especially sheet C3). Look at existing contours/spot elevations vs. the proposed finished floor or pad elevation. If the site is currently ~10 ft low in places, but the depth varies (deeper in some spots, shallower in others), calculate or estimate an average depth across the area. Example: If depths range from 6 ft to 12 ft, an average of ~9 ft is reasonable for a first-cut estimate.
3. Plug into the formula Multiply length × width × average depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27.
4. Add a compaction / contingency factor (very important) Fill dirt compacts when placed in lifts and rolled (especially under a building pad or parking lot).
   • For basic site grading: Add 10–15% extra.
   • For structural fill under pavement or building: Add 15–25% extra. Most people use 15–20% as a safe rule of thumb for a project like raising a retail pad.
5. Convert to truckloads if helpful A typical tandem dump truck hauls roughly 10–18 cubic yards (depending on the truck and how full they load it). A larger semi can do 20+ yards.

Quick Example (Raising a Pad ~8–10 ft Low)

Suppose you have a roughly rectangular area 120 ft long × 180 ft wide that you want to raise an average of 9 feet:

• Cubic feet = $120 \times 180 \times 9 = 194{,}400$ cu ft
• Cubic yards = $194{,}400 \div 27 \approx 7{,}200$ cubic yards (raw)
• With 20% extra for compaction/waste: $7{,}200 \times 1.20 = 8{,}640$ cubic yards

That’s a ballpark — real numbers depend on the exact area and average depth from your grading plan.

Pro Tips for Accuracy on a Real Site (Like Your Dollar General Project)

• Best source: Use sheet C3 (Grading Plan). The contours and spot elevations let you see exactly how much cut or fill is planned in each area. Civil engineers calculate precise net earthwork volumes from this. For a quick owner estimate, average the fill depths over the zones you want to raise higher than currently shown.
• Irregular sites or varying depths: Divide the site into smaller rectangles or use the “average end area” method if you have cross-sections. Or use free online cut/fill calculators (search “cubic yard calculator fill dirt”).
• Compaction matters: The dirt you order is loose. After compaction it takes up less space, so you need extra volume. Structural specs (95%+ Standard Proctor) usually require good compaction in 6–12 inch lifts.
• Other factors: Add a little more if you have slopes, berms, or transitions around the edges. Subtract any material you can reuse from on-site cuts.
• Get professional quantities: For permitting, bidding, or a real construction project, have the civil engineer (AAB or whoever stamped the plans) run the exact cut/fill numbers or revise the grading plan for a higher pad elevation. That’s the most accurate and defensible way.