Excavation & Earthwork
How Many Dump-Truck Loads of Dirt Will You Need?
Dump truck capacities in cubic yards and tons, why weight limits beat volume limits for soil, and how to convert your dig or fill into a load count and cost.
"How many truckloads?" is really three questions stacked: how much soil (loose, not bank), how big is the truck (in weight, not just volume), and how do trips translate to dollars. Here are the numbers that answer all three.
Truck capacities: volume vs. weight
| Truck | Bed volume | Legal payload | Realistic soil load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dump trailer (consumer) | 3–5 yd³ | 2–5 tons | 2–4 yd³ |
| Single-axle dump | 5–7 yd³ | 6–8 tons | 5–6 yd³ |
| Tandem-axle dump | 12–16 yd³ | 13–16 tons | 10–12 yd³ |
| Tri-axle dump | 16–20 yd³ | 18–20 tons | 15–18 yd³ |
| Side/end-dump semi | 20–26 yd³ | 22–25 tons | 18–22 yd³ |
The middle column is the one that governs. Loose earth weighs 2,000–2,500 lb per cubic yard dry, and 2,500–2,700+ moist. A 16-yard tandem bed filled with moist clay would gross around 20 tons of payload - several tons over legal limits - so drivers stop at 10–12 yards. Wet material means fewer yards per trip.
The load-count method
2. Loose volume = bank × swell (sand 1.12, earth 1.25, clay 1.30)
3. Loads = loose ÷ realistic truck capacity, rounded up
Worked example: basement dig haul-off
- Dig: 26 × 40 × 7 ft = 7,280 ft³ = 270 bank yd³ in mixed earth
- Loose: 270 × 1.25 = 337 yd³
- Tandem at 11 yd³: 337 ÷ 11 = 30.6 → 31 loads
- At $150/load haul + disposal: ~$4,650 - now you know why excavation bids separate hauling
Worked example: buying fill
You need 15 compacted yards of fill for a low spot. Order 15 × 1.35 ≈ 20 loose yards = two tandem trips. Per-load delivery fees make one tri-axle trip (if access allows) cheaper than two tandem trips - ask what trucks the supplier runs and what your site can take.
The excavation calculator counts loads for you from dig dimensions, soil type, and truck size.
Open the Excavation CalculatorSite access: the constraint people forget
A loaded tandem weighs 25+ tons, stands over 11 ft tall, and needs roughly 12 ft of width, overhead clearance from branches and wires, and firm ground. It will crack a residential concrete driveway and sink into a soft lawn. Walk the route in advance and plan where the truck stops and dumps: soil slides out the back in a pile roughly as wide as the truck and several feet tall - not spread. If trucks can't reach the work area, budget for a skid steer to shuttle material, which changes the whole cost picture.
Cost planning ranges (U.S., typical)
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Fill dirt, delivered | $8–20 / yd³ |
| Screened topsoil, delivered | $20–50 / yd³ |
| Haul-off (truck + driver) | $90–180 / hour or $100–200 / load |
| Clean-soil disposal / tipping | $10–50 / load, more where landfilled |
Prices vary widely by region and haul distance - treat these as planning brackets and get two local quotes. Note that "free fill wanted / free dirt available" listings can genuinely zero out disposal costs on flexible schedules.
When to call a professional
More than a few loads means machine loading; more than a dozen means traffic management, site protection, and disposal logistics that experienced excavation contractors handle daily. Contaminated or suspect soil (old tanks, fill of unknown origin) is a regulatory matter - stop and get advice before hauling it anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of dirt fit in a dump truck?
Single-axle trucks: 5-6 cubic yards. Tandem-axle: 10-16 by volume, but soil weight usually limits them to 10-12. Tri-axle: 15-18. Small dump trailers: 3-5.
How many tons can a dump truck legally carry?
Typical legal payloads: single-axle about 6-8 tons, tandem 13-16 tons, tri-axle 18-20 tons. Moist soil at 1.1-1.35 tons per loose cubic yard hits these limits before the bed is full.
How many wheelbarrows equal one dump truck load?
A standard 6-cubic-foot wheelbarrow holds 0.22 cubic yards, so a 12-yard tandem load equals roughly 54 heaped wheelbarrow trips - useful when planning where the pile gets dumped.
How much does a truckload of fill dirt cost?
Fill dirt commonly runs $8-20 per cubic yard delivered ($100-250 per tandem load) depending on region and haul distance. Screened topsoil costs two to three times more than unscreened fill.
Should I order by the yard or by the load?
Get both numbers: per-yard pricing for comparison, per-load minimums for reality. Most suppliers charge a full delivery fee per trip, so sizing the order to fill the truck saves real money.