Free Tool

FILL & SOIL CALCULATOR

How much fill do you need? Work it out in 30 seconds.

You Need
1.65 m³
1.50 m³ + 10% compaction
Estimated Cost
$280
Delivered, 1 tipper minimum

Ballpark only. Final delivered price depends on suburb and load size. Minimum tipper delivery typically 1 load (5–8m³).

How to use this calculator

The fill calculator works out cubic metres needed for your project, then adds 10% for compaction (because compacted material takes up less space than the raw delivered volume). Our rates reflect tipper delivery across the Gold Coast.

Tips for ordering fill

  • Always order slightly more than you think you need — running short means a second delivery fee.
  • Recycled aggregate (RCA) performs identically to virgin product for sub-base work and costs less.
  • For driveway base, use road base or RCA 20mm. For paver bedding, use crusher dust.
  • Compacting in 100mm lifts is best — never dump and compact a deep layer in one go.

More on choosing the right material in our Crusher Dust vs Road Base guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate cubic metres of fill?

Length × width × depth (all in metres). For example, a 5m × 3m area at 100mm depth is 5 × 3 × 0.1 = 1.5 cubic metres. Add 10% for compaction.

How much does a tipper of fill cost on the Gold Coast?

Recycled aggregate from $90/m³ delivered. Sand and crusher dust similar. Minimum delivery is usually 1 tipper load (around 5–8m³ for a standard truck).

Why add 10% for compaction?

Loose delivered material reduces in volume when compacted. Adding ~10% means you don't run short part-way through the job and have to pay a second delivery fee.

What's the difference between RCA and road base?

RCA (Recycled Concrete Aggregate) is reprocessed concrete. Road base is engineered for sub-base work to specific compaction targets. For most residential work both perform identically — RCA is usually cheaper.