How Much Fill Dirt for a 16x20 Area?

For a 16x20 area of fill dirt at 6 inches deep, you need about 5.93 cubic yards - roughly 320 bags (0.5 cu ft bag), about 7.41 tons. The amount changes with depth; the table below shows common depths, and you can adjust everything in the calculator.

DepthCubic yardsBags
3 in2.96160
6 in5.93320
12 in11.85640

Based on a 16x20 area (320 sq ft). One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet; bags are 0.5 cu ft bag.

Measure the average depth you need to fill or raise; for holes, estimate the average depth.

Add prices to estimate cost (optional)

You need about

5.93cubic yards
320
bags (0.5 cu ft bag)
7.41 t
approx. weight (~14,815 lb)

Weight is an estimate (1.0-1.5 tons per cubic yard); actual weight varies with material and moisture.

Shop soil on Amazon

Fill dirt is subsoil used to raise grade, fill holes, and build up low areas - it has little organic matter, so it compacts well and is cheaper than topsoil. Use fill dirt for the bulk, then cap it with topsoil where you want to plant.

For an uneven hole, estimate the average depth across the area rather than the deepest point.

Other fill dirt amounts

Same area, other materials

Need a different size? Open the full Fill Dirt calculator →