How Much Does a Yard of Dirt Weigh?
Soil weight per cubic yard and cubic foot, by type and moisture
A cubic yard of dirt weighs roughly 2,000 to 2,700 pounds, about 1 to 1.35 tons. Type sets the baseline and moisture pushes it up; saturated clay can top 3,000. Dirt is one of the heaviest things a homeowner ever hauls, and it's easy to underestimate.
Dirt weight at a glance
Ranges reflect real variation in soil type and moisture. Wet and clay-heavy soils sit at the top of each range.
Weight by soil type and moisture
Soil weight isn't one number. It shifts with what the dirt is made of and how much water it's holding. The table gives a working range per cubic yard, from bone-dry to soaked.
| Soil type | Dry (lb/yd³) | Moist (lb/yd³) | Saturated (lb/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 2,000 | 2,400 | 2,900 |
| Fill dirt | 2,200 | 2,600 | 3,000 |
| Clay | 2,300 | 2,700 | 3,400 |
| Sand | 2,600 | 2,900 | 3,100 |
| Gravel | 2,800 | 3,000 | — |
Notice clay's jump when wet: 2,300 dry to 3,400 saturated. Clay holds water like a sponge, which is why a rained-on dig-out weighs so much more than the same job in a dry spell.
What this means when you rent a dumpster
Dirt behaves like concrete: weight is the limit, not volume. A standard 20-yard dumpster with a 3-ton cap holds only about 2 to 3 cubic yards of soil before it's over, leaving most of the box empty and unusable.
Do the excavation math first. A 10 by 10 patch dug a foot deep is 3.7 cubic yards; at moist topsoil weights that's roughly 4.5 tons, past the limit of most single containers. For dirt, order a small dedicated heavy-debris or dirt container, not a big general dumpster you can't fill.
One wrinkle on the volume side: dirt swells when you dig it. Compacted ground breaks loose and traps air, expanding about 20% once it's shoveled, so that 3.7-yard hole becomes closer to 4.5 loose yards in the container. With soil you'll almost always hit the weight cap before you run out of space, but the swell is worth knowing if you're pricing a container by volume.
Here's the stance we'll take that most disposal guides won't: don't pay landfill rates to dump clean fill dirt. If it's free of rocks, roots, sod, and trash, someone nearby almost always wants it for grading or backfill, and clean-fill sites often take it for a fraction of landfill cost. Mixing dirt with other debris kills that option, so keep the loads separate.
Don't trust recycling-table numbers for dirt.
Government volume-to-weight recycling tables often list soil near 929 pounds per cubic yard. That's an administrative diversion factor, not the weight of real excavated dirt, which runs two to three times heavier. Sizing a container off the low number is how a "simple" dig-out blows past its weight cap.
Where these numbers come from
The baseline is soil bulk density, the standard measure soil scientists use. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service data puts typical mineral-soil bulk density between about 1.4 and 1.7 grams per cubic centimeter. Multiply by 62.4 and that's roughly 87 to 105 pounds per cubic foot of dry mineral soil.
Then add water. Bulk density measures the dry mineral fraction, but field soil carries moisture in its pore space, and water weighs about 62 pounds per cubic foot. That's why the moist and saturated columns run well above the dry figures. Loose, screened topsoil sits at the lighter end of the table because it's fluffed with organic matter and air; dense, compacted clay and mineral fill sit at the heavier end.
- Soil bulk density by texture: USDA NRCS, Soil Health – Bulk Density Guide, and NRCS Soil Quality Indicators: Bulk Density.
- Bulk density interpretation: South Dakota State University Extension, Bulk Density as an Indicator of Soil Health.
Estimate your project
Dirt comes out of dig-outs, grading, and sod jobs. These tools size the container and account for the weight.
Common questions
How much does a yard of dirt weigh?
Roughly 2,000 to 2,700 pounds, about 1 to 1.35 tons. Dry topsoil is near the low end; sand, gravel, and wet soil run higher. Saturated clay can top 3,000 pounds. Type and moisture drive the range.
Does wet dirt weigh more than dry?
Yes, by 20 to 50 percent. Water fills the pore space between soil particles and weighs about 62 pounds per cubic foot. A dig-out you estimated at a ton per yard can come out closer to a ton and a half after heavy rain.
Can I put dirt in a regular dumpster?
Usually only a limited amount. Dirt caps a standard dumpster's weight at just 2 to 3 cubic yards, well before it looks full. Ask about a dedicated dirt or heavy-debris container, and check whether a local fill site will take clean dirt free or cheap.
How much does a cubic foot of dirt weigh?
About 75 to 100 pounds for typical soil. A 5-gallon bucket holds about two-thirds of a cubic foot, so it already weighs 50 to 70 pounds of dirt. Volume adds up fast.
Disclaimer: These weights are estimates. Actual soil weight varies widely with composition, compaction, organic content, and moisture on the day you dig. For a large excavation or anything near a container's weight rating, confirm with your hauler and weigh a test load if you can.