How Much Topsoil or Fill Dirt Do You Need? A Central Valley Guide
To figure how much topsoil or fill dirt you need, measure the area in feet, multiply length by width by the depth in feet, and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. As a rule of thumb, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, and screened topsoil weighs roughly 1 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard, more when it is wet. Fill dirt is heavier. Superior Hauling delivers topsoil, fill dirt, and blends across Fresno, Madera, and the Central Valley, and can spread it with a Bobcat in the same visit.
The quick formula
Soil is sold by the cubic yard, so the job is to turn your area into cubic yards. Measure the length and width in feet, pick your depth in inches, and use this: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. To turn inches into feet, divide by 12, so 3 inches is 0.25 feet. A 20 by 20 foot bed at 3 inches deep is 400 × 0.25 = 100 cubic feet, or about 3.7 cubic yards. If measuring is not your idea of a good afternoon, tell us the area and the depth and we will size it for you.
Coverage at a glance
Because a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, one yard of soil spreads over a predictable area depending on depth:
| Depth | Area one cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 2 inches | about 162 square feet |
| 3 inches | about 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | about 81 square feet |
For a new lawn, 4 to 6 inches of topsoil gives roots room to establish; topping off an existing bed often takes just 2 to 3 inches. Screened topsoil runs about 1 to 1.3 tons per cubic yard and fill dirt runs heavier, which matters if a supplier prices by the ton.
Topsoil, fill dirt, or a blend?
Topsoil and fill dirt do different jobs, and ordering the wrong one wastes money. Topsoil is the dark, screened, nutrient-rich soil you want at the surface for lawns, gardens, and beds. Fill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter. It compacts firm and settles very little, which makes it the material for building up low spots, backfilling, or raising a grade. Many jobs use both: fill dirt to build the volume, then a few inches of topsoil on top to plant into. Tell us the project and we will point you to the right material, or help you choose when you are not sure.
Not sure how many yards to order?
Send us the area and the depth and we'll size the order and give you a free, upfront quote.
Delivery and weight
Soil gets heavy fast. A few cubic yards can run several tons, which is why we bring it on the truck and place it where you want it. Superior Hauling delivers topsoil, fill dirt, and blends across the Central Valley through our material delivery service, and we can drop it in one spot or spread it out, depending on the job.
The part that saves a weekend: spreading
A mound dumped at the end of the driveway still leaves the hard part, which is moving several tons of soil by wheelbarrow. We deliver the material and spread it with the Bobcat on the same visit. Because we also handle grading and dirt work, we can level a low yard or build up a pad and place the soil in one trip. That pairing turns a weekend of shoveling into a job done by the afternoon.
Getting the number right
Order too little and you are making a second trip; order too much and you are storing a pile. The surest way to the right amount is to have us measure and quote it. Pricing depends on the material, the quantity, the delivery distance, and whether we spread it, so we give you an honest, upfront number once we know the job. Call (559) 363-8702 or request a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much topsoil I need?
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
What is the difference between topsoil and fill dirt?
How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?
Do you deliver and spread the soil?
Planning a lawn, a garden, or a grade that needs building up? Superior Hauling delivers topsoil and fill dirt across Madera, Fresno, Clovis, and the Central Valley, veteran owned, and spreads it in one visit. Call or text (559) 363-8702, or request a free quote.
