Dirt Weight Calculator — Topsoil · Fill Dirt · Clay · Sand · Compost

How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Dirt Weigh?

Cubic Yard of Dirt Weight — Topsoil, Fill Dirt, Clay & All Soil Types

✅ Quick Answer: Cubic Yard of Dirt Weight

A cubic yard of dirt weighs:

Dry topsoil: ~2,000 lbs (1.00 ton)

Moist topsoil: ~2,700 lbs (1.35 tons)

Fill dirt (dry): ~2,150 lbs (1.08 tons)

Fill dirt (wet): ~2,700 lbs (1.35 tons)

Clay (wet): ~3,510 lbs (1.76 tons)

Range: 2,000–3,500 lbs per cubic yard. Most common: 2,000–2,700 lbs/yd³.

A cubic yard of dirt weighs between 2,000 and 2,700 pounds (1.0 to 1.35 tons) for typical topsoil and fill dirt. The exact weight depends on the type of dirt and its moisture content — wet dirt can weigh up to 35% more than dry dirt. Use our free dirt weight calculator to plan deliveries, check truck weight limits, and estimate landscaping project costs.

🚛 Delivery Planning⚖️ Weight Limits🌱 Landscaping🏗️ Construction

Dry topsoil = 2,000 lbs/yd³

Moist topsoil = 2,700 lbs/yd³

1 yd³ = 27 ft³

Moisture adds up to 35%

Dirt Weight Calculator

Calculate weight from volume or convert weight back to cubic yards for topsoil, fill dirt, clay, compost and more.

Soil Type

Preset density

Topsoil, moist: 100 lb/ft³

2700 lbs/yd³

Custom density

Leave as preset unless supplier gives a better number.

Enter Volume

Amount

Volume unit

= 1.000 yd³

Dirt Weight Results

1 cubic yards of Topsoil, moist

Pounds

2,700 lbs

Short tons

1.35 tons

Kilograms

1,225 kg

Volume breakdown: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.765 m³

Weight per ft³: 100 lbs/ft³

Weight per yd³: 2,700 lbs

Bulk quantity reference

Volume	ft³	lbs	tons
0.5 yd³	13.5	1,350	0.68
1 yd³	27	2,700	1.35
2 yd³	54	5,400	2.7
5 yd³	135	13,500	6.75
10 yd³	270	27,000	13.5

🚛 Truck capacity check

⚠️ 1/2-ton pickup: max ~1,000 lbs → safe load ~0.37 yd³

✅ Dump truck (10 yd³): max ~26,000 lbs → safe load ~9.63 yd³

1 yd³ of heavy or moist dirt can exceed pickup truck payload. Always check the door-jamb payload sticker.

How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Dirt Weigh? — Complete Answer

All soil types, all moisture levels — at a glance

Cubic Yard of Dirt Weight — By Soil Type & Moisture

Soil Type	lb/ft³	lbs/yd³	tons/yd³	kg/yd³
Topsoil, dry	74	1,998	1.00	906
Topsoil, moist	100	2,700	1.35	1,225
Topsoil, wet	110	2,970	1.49	1,347
Fill dirt, dry	80	2,160	1.08	980
Fill dirt, moist	90	2,430	1.22	1,102
Fill dirt, wet	100	2,700	1.35	1,225
Clay, dry	100	2,700	1.35	1,225
Clay, moist	110	2,970	1.49	1,347
Clay, wet	130	3,510	1.75	1,592
Sandy soil, dry	90	2,430	1.22	1,102
Sandy soil, moist	100	2,700	1.35	1,225
Loam, dry	75	2,025	1.01	919
Loam, moist	85	2,295	1.15	1,041
Peat, dry	25	675	0.34	306
Peat, moist	50	1,350	0.68	612
Compost	30	810	0.41	367
Garden mix	65	1,755	0.88	796
Potting mix	35	945	0.47	429

Weight Range Visualization — 1 Cubic Yard of Dirt

Peat (dry)

675 lbs

Compost

810 lbs

Potting mix

945 lbs

Garden mix

1,755 lbs

Topsoil (dry)

2,000 lbs

Fill dirt (dry)

2,160 lbs

Topsoil (moist)

2,700 lbs

Clay (wet)

3,510 lbs

⭐ Most common range: 2,000–2,700 lbs per cubic yard.

Cubic Yard of Dirt — Key Numbers

Dry topsoil: 2,000 lbs. Moist topsoil: 2,700 lbs. Fill dirt dry: 2,160 lbs. Wet clay: 3,510 lbs. Compost: 810 lbs. Formula: lbs = lb/ft³ × 27.

Truck Load Limits for Dirt

1/2-ton pickup: about 0.37 yd³ moist topsoil. 1-ton pickup: about 0.74 yd³. Standard dump: about 9.6 yd³. Always check truck payload before loading dirt.

How Moisture Affects Dirt Weight

Dry topsoil may be 2,000 lbs/yd³, moist topsoil 2,700 lbs/yd³, and wet topsoil 2,970 lbs/yd³. Delivered topsoil is almost always moist.

Dirt Weight Reference Table — All Soil Types

Pre-calculated weights for common volumes of dirt and soil

By Volume (yd³)

Soil Type	0.5 yd³	1 yd³	2 yd³	5 yd³	10 yd³
Topsoil, dry	999 lbs	1,998 lbs	3,996 lbs	9,990 lbs	19,980 lbs
Topsoil, moist	1,350 lbs	2,700 lbs	5,400 lbs	13,500 lbs	27,000 lbs
Topsoil, wet	1,485 lbs	2,970 lbs	5,940 lbs	14,850 lbs	29,700 lbs
Fill dirt, dry	1,080 lbs	2,160 lbs	4,320 lbs	10,800 lbs	21,600 lbs
Fill dirt, moist	1,215 lbs	2,430 lbs	4,860 lbs	12,150 lbs	24,300 lbs
Clay, dry	1,350 lbs	2,700 lbs	5,400 lbs	13,500 lbs	27,000 lbs
Clay, wet	1,755 lbs	3,510 lbs	7,020 lbs	17,550 lbs	35,100 lbs
Loam, moist	1,148 lbs	2,295 lbs	4,590 lbs	11,475 lbs	22,950 lbs
Compost	405 lbs	810 lbs	1,620 lbs	4,050 lbs	8,100 lbs
Potting mix	473 lbs	945 lbs	1,890 lbs	4,725 lbs	9,450 lbs

By Volume (ft³)

Soil Type	1 ft³	5 ft³	10 ft³	27 ft³ (1 yd³)
Topsoil, dry	74 lbs	370 lbs	740 lbs	1,998 lbs
Topsoil, moist	100 lbs	500 lbs	1,000 lbs	2,700 lbs
Fill dirt, dry	80 lbs	400 lbs	800 lbs	2,160 lbs
Clay, wet	130 lbs	650 lbs	1,300 lbs	3,510 lbs
Compost	30 lbs	150 lbs	300 lbs	810 lbs
Potting mix	35 lbs	175 lbs	350 lbs	945 lbs
Garden mix	65 lbs	325 lbs	650 lbs	1,755 lbs
Peat, dry	25 lbs	125 lbs	250 lbs	675 lbs

By Weight (tons)

Soil Type	1 ton	2 tons	5 tons	10 tons
Topsoil, dry	1.00 yd³	2.00 yd³	5.01 yd³	10.01 yd³
Topsoil, moist	0.74 yd³	1.48 yd³	3.70 yd³	7.41 yd³
Fill dirt, dry	0.93 yd³	1.85 yd³	4.63 yd³	9.26 yd³
Fill dirt, moist	0.82 yd³	1.65 yd³	4.12 yd³	8.23 yd³
Clay, wet	0.57 yd³	1.14 yd³	2.85 yd³	5.70 yd³
Compost	2.47 yd³	4.94 yd³	12.35 yd³	24.69 yd³
Potting mix	2.12 yd³	4.23 yd³	10.58 yd³	21.16 yd³

Why Does Dirt Weight Vary So Much?

Four key factors that determine how heavy a cubic yard of dirt is

💧 Moisture Content — The Biggest Factor

Moisture is the #1 reason dirt weight varies. Dry topsoil may weigh 2,000 lbs/yd³, moist topsoil 2,700 lbs/yd³, and wet topsoil 2,970 lbs/yd³. For a 5 yd³ order, that difference can be nearly 4,850 lbs.

🧱 Soil Composition

Clay minerals are dense, sand is medium density, and organic matter is light. Dry clay can weigh 2,700 lbs/yd³ while dry peat may weigh only 675 lbs/yd³. Clay can be 4× heavier than peat.

🔧 Compaction — Loose vs. Compacted

Loose fill dirt might weigh 2,160 lbs/yd³ while compacted fill can approach 2,565 lbs/yd³. Loose dirt can compact 15–25%, so order extra for compacted trench backfill or berms.

🌱 Organic Matter Content

Organic materials are much lighter than mineral particles. Compost is about 810 lbs/yd³, potting mix about 945 lbs/yd³, and garden mix about 1,755 lbs/yd³. Lighter soil improves handling but changes watering behavior.

Practical Dirt Weight Guide — What You Need to Know

Truck limits, delivery planning, and real-world weight scenarios

🚛 Pickup Truck Limits

A 1/2-ton pickup usually carries about 1,000–1,500 lbs, or only 0.37–0.56 yd³ of moist topsoil. A 3/4-ton pickup carries about 0.56–0.81 yd³, and a 1-ton truck about 0.74–1.11 yd³. Always check the payload sticker.

🚚 Dump Truck Dirt Capacity

Small dump trucks carry about 3.7–4.8 yd³ of moist topsoil by weight. A standard 10 yd³ dump truck is often limited to about 9.6 yd³ of moist topsoil before hitting a 26,000 lb weight limit.

📦 Bulk Bag / Tote Bag Weight

A 1 yd³ bulk bag of dry topsoil weighs about 2,000 lbs; moist topsoil weighs about 2,700 lbs. Many bulk bags are rated 1,000–2,200 lbs, so check safe working load before moving.

🏗️ Foundation & Structural Loading

A 4×8 raised bed at 12 inches deep holds 32 ft³. Moist topsoil weighs about 3,200 lbs, or 100 lbs/ft². That is too heavy for many decks without structural review.

💰 Buying Dirt — Tons vs. Cubic Yards

Moist topsoil is about 1.35 tons/yd³. If dirt is sold at $25/ton, the equivalent is $33.75/yd³. Compare prices by volume when moisture changes weight.

⚖️ Weight Comparison Reference

Peat dry is about 675 lbs/yd³, compost 810, potting mix 945, topsoil dry 2,000, moist topsoil 2,700, wet clay 3,510, and concrete about 4,050 lbs/yd³.

Cubic Yard of Dirt Weight — Real-World Scenarios

Six practical examples for landscaping and construction

🌱 Filling a 4×8 ft Raised Garden Bed

A 4×8×1 ft bed is 32 ft³ or 1.19 yd³. Garden mix at 65 lb/ft³ weighs about 2,080 lbs. Moist topsoil weighs 3,200 lbs, too heavy for many decks.

🚛 Planning a 10 yd³ Topsoil Delivery

Ten cubic yards of moist topsoil weighs 27,000 lbs. A standard 10 yd³ dump with a 26,000 lb limit is slightly overloaded, so plan 9–9.5 yd³ per load or use a larger truck.

🏗️ Backfill for Foundation Trench

A 40×2×3 ft trench is 240 ft³ or 8.89 yd³. Compacted fill at 95 lb/ft³ weighs 22,800 lbs. Add 15% loose volume for compaction.

🌿 Compost Topdressing

Topdressing 1,000 ft² at 1/2 inch needs 41.7 ft³ or 1.54 yd³. Compost weighs about 1,251 lbs, while topsoil for the same volume weighs about 4,170 lbs.

🏊 Pool Excavation Dirt Removal

A 16×32×6 ft pool excavation produces 3,072 ft³ or 113.8 yd³. Moist clay at 110 lb/ft³ weighs 337,920 lbs, about 169 tons and roughly 13 dump truck loads.

🌳 Landscape Berm Construction

A 20×8×2 ft triangular berm needs about 160 ft³ or 5.93 yd³. Add 20% compaction factor to order 7.1 yd³, weighing about 17,253 lbs for moist fill dirt.

Dirt Weight at a Glance — Common Volumes