Intro
You found free fill dirt, the excavator is ready to deliver… and then comes the killer question: "How many loads do you need?" If your answer is "uh, a few?", this guide is for you. In 10 minutes, with a tape measure, you'll be able to estimate your fill volume and the number of truckloads, without ending up with a mountain in your driveway (or a half-filled hole).
Why calculate before you order dirt
- Avoid surplus: one pile too many means hours of wheelbarrowing, or a second haul to get rid of it.
- Avoid shortage: a half-filled hole means a project that drags on and one more appointment to book with the excavator.
- Speak the excavator's language: with a number in cubic metres (or cubic yards), the conversation is quick and clear, and your request attracts the right offers.
- Plan access: needing 2 loads or 12 changes everything for the neighbours, the driveway and the lawn.
The calculation in 3 steps (promise, it's grade-7 math)
1. Measure the area to fill
- Rectangular area: length × width.
- Round area (an old above-ground pool, for example): 3.14 × radius × radius.
- Odd shape: split it into rectangles, calculate each one, add them up.
Work in metres. If you measure in feet: 1 foot = 0.3048 m.
2. Multiply by the depth
Volume (m³) = area (m²) × average depth (m).
Example: a 10 m × 8 m yard raised by 30 cm (0.30 m) → 10 × 8 × 0.30 = 24 m³.
If the ground is uneven, take several depth measurements and average them. And if the other person talks in cubic yards: 1 m³ ≈ 1.31 cubic yards.
3. Add a margin, then divide by the truck's capacity
Dirt doesn't behave like water:
- When it's dug up and loaded, it expands (this is called swell): the volume in the truck box is larger than the volume "in place".
- When it's compacted at your place, it loses volume again.
There's no single number that works for every type of dirt: it depends on the soil (sand, clay, topsoil…) and how wet it is. The smart move: plan a margin and ask the excavator for their estimate for their type of dirt.
Then: number of loads = volume needed (with margin) ÷ volume carried per load, rounded up. Capacity varies from truck to truck, so ask the excavator instead of guessing. For example, if their truck carries 10 m³ per load and you need 24 m³ plus a margin, plan for 3 loads.
Where to find dirt once the math is done
- Post a request with your volume in m³, the soil type you want and site access: excavators will know right away if their surplus fits.
- Browse listings on the map and filter by soil type, volume and distance.
- Look at areas with active construction: frequent surplus, short trips.
Nearby cities: Montréal · Laval · Longueuil · Châteauguay · Delson · Sainte-Martine · Saint-Lin–Laurentides · Oka
Regulations (play it safe)
- Depending on your municipality, the added depth and the area covered, a permit may be required for fill. Check with your city's planning department (urbanisme) before delivery.
- Watch the drainage: raising a lot can send water to your neighbour's yard or toward your foundation. Your municipality may have rules on this.
- Ask where the dirt comes from. On Terreadonner, the soil level is declared on the listing by whoever posts it: ask the excavator your questions directly. In Québec, soil management is also subject to the rules of the Ministry of the Environment (MELCCFP).
Terreadonner.com: two simple paths
Receiver
- Free sign-up.
- Do your calculation (above), then search the map by soil type, volume and distance.
- Nothing fits? Post a request with your volume in m³: it's the first thing excavators look at.
- Direct contact to arrange delivery or pickup.
Excavator / Landscaper
- List your surplus volume, soil type, access and time slots.
- Mention your truck's capacity: the receiver will know how many loads to expect.
- Split a large volume between several nearby receivers: site cleared faster, fewer kilometres.
Mini-scenarios
Receiver – the old round pool
Julie wants to fill the spot left by a 7.3 m (24 ft) diameter above-ground pool (radius 3.65 m), 45 cm deep. Math: 3.14 × 3.65 × 3.65 × 0.45 ≈ 18.8 m³. She adds a margin, posts a request for "about 20 m³ and a bit more, fill dirt, access via the driveway" and asks the excavator for their truck's capacity before confirming the number of loads. No forgotten mountain in the driveway. Victory.
Excavator – the foundation surplus
Marc is finishing a basement and estimates his surplus "in place". Since dirt swells when loaded, he plans more loads than the raw math suggests and says so in his listing. Two receivers split the volume; each knows how many trucks are coming and when. Nobody chases anybody.
Quick tips
- Measure twice, order once: a 10 cm depth error over a large yard quickly adds up to several cubic metres.
- Write everything in metres: mixing feet, inches and metres is the recipe for "we're short".
- Compact in layers rather than all at once: you'll see better what's left to fill.
- Plan where the truck will dump: the closer to the fill area, the less you shovel.
- Keep topsoil for the top: fill underneath, good soil on the surface for lawn or garden.
FAQ
How do I calculate how much dirt I need?
Length × width × depth, all in metres. The result is in cubic metres (m³).
How many cubic metres in a truckload?
It depends on the truck and the dirt. Ask the excavator for the capacity before settling on the number of loads.
Why do I need more dirt than my calculation says?
Because dirt settles when compacted, and the ground is rarely perfectly flat. A margin keeps you from running short.
Cubic metres or cubic yards?
Both are used in Québec. 1 m³ ≈ 1.31 cubic yards; 1 cubic yard ≈ 0.76 m³.
Do I need a permit to fill my lot?
It depends on your municipality and the scale of the work. Check with the planning department before delivery.
Conclusion
A tape measure, a calculator and one question to the excavator about their truck's capacity: that's all you need to order the right amount of dirt. Less surplus, fewer wasted trips, and a project that moves forward instead of going in circles (like the wheelbarrow).