Dump truck capacity by type
Capacities vary by body size and by what the truck is allowed to weigh on the road. These are typical ranges to plan with, not promises. The calculator uses the round figure in the last column.
| Truck | Typical capacity | Calculator uses |
|---|---|---|
| Half-ton pickup | well under a yard to about 1 yd³ of dirt, limited by payload | 1 yd³ |
| Heavy-duty pickup or small dump trailer | about 1–2 yd³ | 2 yd³ |
| Single-axle dump truck | about 5–7 yd³ | 5 yd³ |
| Tandem-axle dump truck | about 10–14 yd³ | 10 or 14 yd³ |
| Tri-axle truck or dump trailer | more again; ask the hauler | enter your own |
If your hauler tells you their truck size, pick “My hauler’s truck” in the calculator and type it in.
Volume or weight: which runs out first?
A truck body has a volume, and the truck has a legal and safe weight. Light materials like mulch fill the body long before they reach the weight limit. Dirt and sand are heavy, so the weight can run out first:
| Full body | Dry dirt (about 1.0 t/yd³) | Typical fill (about 1.1 t/yd³) | Wet fill (about 1.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 yd³ | 5.0 tons | 5.5 tons | 7.0 tons |
| 7 yd³ | 7.0 tons | 7.7 tons | 9.8 tons |
| 10 yd³ | 10.0 tons | 11.0 tons | 14.0 tons |
| 12 yd³ | 12.0 tons | 13.2 tons | 16.8 tons |
| 14 yd³ | 14.0 tons | 15.4 tons | 19.6 tons |
When a hauler quotes “a load” of dirt, ask two questions: how many yards is that, and is that measured loose in the truck. The load card above shows the weight of one full load of the material you picked so you can check it against what the hauler says their truck can carry.
How many loads does my job need?
loads = cubic yards to order ÷ yards per load, rounded up
Example. Raising a 40 × 30 ft area by 6 inches:
- 40 × 30 = 1,200 sq ft × 0.5 ft = 600 cu ft
- 600 ÷ 27 = 22.2 cubic yards measured
- Add 15% for compaction: 25.6 cubic yards
- In a 10-yard tandem: 25.6 ÷ 10 = 2.56, so 3 loads
- In a 5-yard single-axle: 25.6 ÷ 5 = 5.1, so 6 loads
- Weight: 25.6 × about 1.1 tons = about 28 tons of typical fill
Notice that the last load is only part full. Some haulers charge per load regardless, so it can pay to adjust the order to whole loads, or to ask whether a smaller truck can bring the last bit.
Before the truck arrives
- Access. A loaded tandem dump truck is heavy and long. It needs a clear route, firm ground and room overhead for the raised bed. Ask the driver how close they can safely get.
- Driveways and lawns. Heavy trucks can crack thin concrete, rut soft lawns and damage buried pipes or septic systems. Point out anything underground and pick a dumping spot on firm ground.
- Where to dump. Dirt is usually tipped in one pile. Put it as close to the work as you can, on a tarp if it is going on a hard surface you want to keep clean.
- Pile size. Even a 10-yard load makes a sizeable heap, so plan room for it plus space to work around it with a wheelbarrow or machine.
- Price units. Some sellers price per yard plus a delivery fee per load, some price per load and some per ton. The fill dirt cost guide shows how to compare them, and the calculator’s price field accepts all three.
Truck capacities and legal weights vary by truck, body and state. The figures here are for planning; the hauler has the final say on what one of their loads holds.
Questions people ask
- How many cubic yards are in a dump truck?
- Typically about 5 to 7 cubic yards for a single-axle dump truck and about 10 to 14 for a tandem-axle truck. Larger tri-axle trucks and dump trailers carry more. Ask the hauler for their truck's capacity.
- How many tons are in a dump truck load of dirt?
- Multiply the yards by the weight per yard. A 10-yard load of typical fill at about 2,200 lb per yard is about 11 tons; the same load of wet fill at 2,800 lb is about 14 tons. Legal limits vary by truck and state, so the hauler decides the final load.
- How much dirt is in a dump truck load?
- It depends on the truck: roughly 5 yards in a small single-axle truck, 10 to 14 in a tandem. When people say 'a dump truck load of dirt' without a size, ask how many yards that means.
- How many dump truck loads do I need?
- Divide the cubic yards you need (including the compaction allowance) by the yards the truck carries, and round up. 42 yards in a 10-yard truck is 4.2, so 5 loads.
- How many yards fit in a pickup truck?
- By volume a full-size bed holds roughly 2 cubic yards level, but by weight many half-ton pickups can only carry around a yard of dry dirt or less of wet. Go by the payload rating, not the bed size.