What drives the cost of fill dirt
Prices vary a lot from one town to the next, so instead of a made-up average, here is what moves the number up or down:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Grade of fill | Unscreened fill straight from a dig is usually the cheapest. Screened fill (rocks and clumps removed) costs more. Engineered or certified structural fill costs more again. |
| Delivery distance | Most sellers charge a delivery fee per load, often based on distance. A closer yard can beat a lower per-yard price further away. |
| Load size | Many sellers have a minimum order or charge per load. Small orders often cost more per yard. |
| Unit of sale | Per yard, per ton or per load. A ton price on wet dirt buys fewer yards than on dry. |
| Access | Tight access, steep driveways or a long carry to the work area can mean a smaller truck, more loads or extra labor. |
| Season and supply | When local construction is busy, free and cheap fill can be plentiful; at other times supply is tighter. |
| Spreading and compacting | Dumping in one pile is the base price. Spreading, grading and compacting with a machine is extra, whether you hire it or rent the equipment. |
How to work out your total from a quote
Get the seller to tell you the price, the unit it is in, the delivery fee and how many yards one of their loads holds. Then:
total = (cubic yards × price per yard) + (number of loads × delivery fee per load)
If they sell by the ton, convert first:
tons = cubic yards × lb per cubic yard ÷ 2,000
Worked example with made-up quote numbers. The figures below are only there to show the arithmetic; they are not typical prices. You need to raise a 30 × 20 ft area by 6 inches.
- Volume: 30 × 20 × 0.5 = 300 cu ft ÷ 27 = 11.1 yd³, plus 15% compaction = 12.8 cubic yards
- Loads in a 10-yard truck: 12.8 ÷ 10 = 1.28, so 2 loads
- Quote A: $P per yard, plus $D delivery per load. Total = 12.8 × P + 2 × D.
- Quote B: $L per 10-yard load, delivered. Total = 2 × L, but you are paying for 20 yards to get 12.8. Ask whether they can send a 13-yard load instead.
- Quote C: $T per ton. At about 1.1 tons per yard, 12.8 yards is about 14.1 tons. Total = 14.1 × T, plus delivery.
Put each quote into the calculator above with the right “price is per” setting to see the total side by side. Remember to add delivery fees, which the calculator does not include.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What exactly is it? Unscreened fill, screened fill, sandy fill, clay? Is it clean, with no trash, concrete, asphalt or wood?
- Where did it come from? A known excavation site is better than “we have a pile”. Avoid dirt from industrial sites, old fuel tank removals or anywhere it may be contaminated.
- How many yards in a load, and is that measured loose?
- What does delivery cost, and is there a minimum?
- Can the truck reach the spot? What ground does it need, and who is responsible if a driveway or lawn is damaged?
- Is it priced by yard or by ton, and how wet is it right now?
Ways to keep the cost down
- Order whole loads. If one load is 10 yards and you need 10.5, check whether a slightly smaller fill depth or reusing dirt from elsewhere on site lets you drop a load.
- Use fill for the bulk and topsoil on top. Only the top few inches need to grow anything.
- Reuse your own dirt. Dirt dug from a trench, footing or pond on the same property can often go back in somewhere else. The excavation calculator estimates how much a dig produces.
- Look for clean free fill from local builders, but inspect it before you accept more than one load.
- Combine jobs. If you also need sand or gravel, ask whether the same supplier can deliver them together.
Related costs to budget for
- Equipment rental for spreading and compacting: a skid steer, plate compactor or roller.
- Topsoil and seed or sod if the area will become lawn.
- Dirt removal if you are taking dirt away rather than bringing it in: haulers may charge per load and some sites charge to accept it.
- Permits and inspections for large fills, filling in a pool or work near drainage, depending on local rules.
Prices for dirt are local. Use this page to compare quotes on the same basis, and confirm volume, units and delivery in writing before the truck is booked.
Questions people ask
- How much is a yard of dirt?
- It depends on where you are, the grade of dirt (unscreened fill, screened fill, topsoil) and delivery. Call two or three local soil yards or excavation companies, ask for the price per yard and the delivery fee to your address, and enter them in the calculator to compare totals.
- How much is a dump truck load of dirt?
- Ask the seller how many yards their load is and whether delivery is included. Then multiply: yards per load × price per yard, plus any delivery fee. A per-load price only makes sense once you know the yards in the load.
- Is fill dirt cheaper than topsoil?
- Usually, yes. Fill dirt is subsoil with little processing, while topsoil is screened and richer in organic matter. Many projects use fill for the bulk and a few inches of topsoil only where things will grow.
- Can I get fill dirt for free?
- Sometimes. Builders and excavation companies often need somewhere to put dirt from a dig. Free fill can contain rocks, debris or worse, so ask where it came from, look at a load before accepting more, and be ready to pay for spreading.
- Why is delivery such a big part of the price?
- Dirt is heavy and cheap per ton, so the truck, fuel and driver time can cost as much as the dirt itself. Ordering fewer, fuller loads usually lowers the cost per yard.