The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
Topsoil and Fill Calculator2026Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga, Collingwood
Topsoil and Fill Calculator: Yards, Tonnes and Loads
A 100 m² (about 1,075 sq ft) lawn area at 150 mm of screened topsoil needs about 17 m³ once you allow 15% for settling, which is about 23 cubic yards, roughly 2 truckloads and $800-$1,400 of soil delivered. The calculator below does the same math for topsoil, triple mix, fill sand or clear stone, in metres or feet.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Work out how much to order
Topsoil, triple mix and fill calculator
Pick a shape, enter the size and depth, and choose the material. Numbers update as you type.
Advanced: change our assumptions
These are for the material picked above. Switching material reloads its defaults.
Rough 2026 Simcoe County figures before HST. Prices assume full or near-full loads to a site within normal trucking distance.
How we calculate
- Area: rectangle = length × width; circle = 3.1416 × (diameter ÷ 2)². Feet convert at 1 ft = 0.3048 m, and 1 m² = 10.764 sq ft.
- Finished volume = area × depth.
- Order volume = finished volume × (1 + settling %). Defaults: topsoil 15%, triple mix 20%, fill sand 10%, clear stone 5%. Loose soil fluffs up when it is dug and loaded, then settles once it is spread, rained on and walked on.
- Cubic yards = cubic metres ÷ 0.7646.
- Tonnes = order volume × loose weight. Defaults: topsoil 1.3, triple mix 1.1, fill sand 1.6, clear stone 1.5 t per m³. Wet soil weighs more.
- Loads = whichever is bigger: tonnes ÷ 22, or cubic yards ÷ 20, rounded up. Light material fills the box before it hits the weight limit.
- Price = cubic yards × delivered price per yard (topsoil $35-$60, triple mix $45-$75, fill sand $15-$30, clear stone $45-$75), plus a short-load charge under 10 yards. Spreading with a machine adds $12-$25 per yard.
- Not included: stripping old sod, removing stone or roots, fine raking, seed or sod, and HST.
Pick the right dirt for the job
Not all brown stuff is the same, and the wrong one costs you twice: once to bring it in and once to fix what it did. Here is the short version of what each material is for.
| Material | Use it for | Do not use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Screened topsoil | Under new sod (100-150 mm), lawn repairs, final grade around a new house | Building up low spots more than a few inches deep |
| Triple mix | Vegetable and flower beds, 200-300 mm deep | Under sod on a big lawn (it is lighter, costs more and settles more) |
| Fill sand | Raising grade, backfill, filling low areas under the topsoil | The top layer of a lawn or garden |
| 3/4 in clear stone | Drainage behind walls, around weeping tile, under sheds and patios | Anything you want grass to grow in |
Builder truth: cheap “topsoil” off a free-fill ad is often subsoil with a tan. If it is grey or orange and has no smell, it is not topsoil. Ask to see the pile.
Where homeowners go wrong
- Ordering the finished volume. If the lawn needs 15 m³ finished, you order about 17. Otherwise you are short a load and paying a second delivery fee.
- Piling topsoil deep to fix a grading problem. Topsoil holds water. A foot of it against the house is a sponge leaning on your foundation. Fix grade with fill, then cap with 100-150 mm of topsoil.
- Burying the siding. Wasaga Beach, for one, wants finished grade at least 150 mm below the siding before it signs off lot grading.
- Ignoring access. A tri-axle needs a firm path and room to tip. On a wet spring lawn it leaves ruts you will be filling all summer.
- Forgetting the half-load season. In March and April most township roads in Simcoe County are held to 5 tonnes per axle, so full loads stop. See our half-load season dates.
Bringing fill in, or taking soil out? Check the rules first
Moving dirt sounds harmless until a by-law officer shows up. Ontario’s excess soil regulation (O. Reg. 406/19) covers soil leaving a site. Projects with less than 100 m³ of excess soil are generally exempt from most of it, including filing on the Registry, but you are still responsible if the soil is contaminated.
Bringing fill onto your lot is a separate question. Many townships have site alteration or fill by-laws, and a conservation authority permit may apply if you are near a wetland, shoreline or watercourse. Ask the township before the first truck, not after the neighbour calls. Our guide on fill and excess soil rules for Ontario homeowners walks through it.
Under 100 m³
Typical lawn, garden or small grading job. Usually exempt from the excess soil Registry, but local by-laws still apply.
Over 100 m³
Getting into real volume. Expect paperwork on soil leaving a site and possibly a site alteration permit for soil coming in.
Near water or wetland
Placing fill in a regulated area can need a conservation authority permit. Tiny has no conservation authority; Wasaga, Collingwood and Springwater are in NVCA territory.
Need it delivered and spread?
We bring the soil, spread it with the machine and leave a grade that drains away from the house. Send us your numbers and a few photos.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much topsoil do I need for new sod?
Plan on 100-150 mm of screened topsoil under sod. For 100 square metres at 150 mm that is 15 cubic metres finished, about 17 cubic metres or 23 cubic yards to order once you add 15% for settling.
How many yards of topsoil are in a truckload?
A tri-axle usually carries around 18-20 cubic yards of topsoil before the box is full. Heavier material like fill sand hits the weight limit, about 22 tonnes, before the box is full.
Why add 15% for settling?
Topsoil is loose when it is delivered. Once it is spread, rolled and rained on, it packs down. Ordering 15% extra means you end up at the depth you wanted instead of short.
What is the difference between topsoil and triple mix?
Triple mix is topsoil blended with peat and compost. It is better for gardens but lighter, pricier and settles more, so plain screened topsoil is the usual choice under sod.
How much does a load of topsoil cost in Simcoe County?
As a rough 2026 range, screened topsoil runs about 35-60 dollars per cubic yard delivered in full loads, so a 20-yard load is roughly 700-1,200 dollars before HST. Distance to the supplier moves the number most.
Do I need a permit to bring in fill?
Sometimes. Many townships have site alteration or fill by-laws, and fill near a wetland or shoreline can need a conservation authority permit. Check with the township before the first load.