Fill dirt for a 12×12 ft lawn
A 12 × 12 ft lawn at 4 in deep needs 1.78 cubic yards of fill dirt, roughly 2.28 tons and $39.11 of material. Fine-tune below.
Full breakdown
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume before waste | 48.0 ft³ |
| Volume with 10% waste | 52.8 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 1.96 |
| Cubic metres | 1.50 |
| Cubic feet | 52.8 |
| Weight | 2.51 tons (5,016 lb) |
| Full dump-truck loads | 1 × 10 yd³ truck |
| Sq ft covered at 1 in deep | 634 |
| Sq ft covered at 3 in deep | 211 |
- Formula: length × width × depth, with depth converted from inches to feet (÷ 12), then × (1 + waste%).
- Fill Dirt: Fill dirt is unscreened subsoil sold by the cubic yard for raising grades; it is structural fill, not growing medium, and needs a topsoil layer on top if anything is going to grow.
- Fill settles — sometimes 20% or more in the first year. Fill in shallow lifts and compact each one, or you will be topping it up again next spring.
- Prices are national averages for planning, not quotes. Confirm with a local supplier — delivery, short-load fees and tax are extra.
12 × 12 ft is 144 square feet. Spread 4 in deep, that is 48.0 cubic feet, or 1.78 cubic yards, of fill dirt. Expect to order around 2.28 tons.
The calculator above is pre-filled with these dimensions — change any field to see the numbers update. Fill dirt is unscreened subsoil sold by the cubic yard for raising grades; it is structural fill, not growing medium, and needs a topsoil layer on top if anything is going to grow.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of fill dirt for a 12×12 ft lawn?
About 1.78 cubic yards at 4 in deep, which is 48.0 cubic feet or 2.28 tons. Add 10% waste if the ground is uneven.
How many bags is that?
Fill Dirt is normally sold in bulk by the cubic yard rather than by the bag, so order 1.78 yards. Bagged versions exist at garden centres but cost several times more per cubic foot.
What depth should a lawn be?
4 in is the standard for fill dirt in this application. Fill settles — sometimes 20% or more in the first year. Fill in shallow lifts and compact each one, or you will be topping it up again next spring.