Fill dirt cost depends on the material, quantity and delivery terms. Local listings checked October 17, 2026 include screened fill at $30 per cubic yard, general fill at $22.50 per ton, and a flat $400 offer for up to 20 cubic yards. These are different local products and pricing arrangements, not a national average.
To budget your project, separate the material price, delivery charges and placement work. A low advertised price per yard can become expensive when a minimum charge or extra haul trip applies. This guide shows how to compare those offers and calculate a useful subtotal before ordering.
Start with the Fill Dirt Calculator if you need an estimate of cubic yards, tons or truckloads. Then use a supplier’s actual rates and terms to price that quantity.
How much does fill dirt cost per cubic yard?
A supplier charging by the cubic yard prices volume. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, but the product description still matters: a yard of screened clay fill is not the same purchase as a yard of planting soil. Confirm what is being supplied before comparing rates.
The examples below are published local listings in US dollars, checked October 17, 2026. They show why the sale unit and included services belong beside every price.
| Local supplier and product | Listed price | Delivery and order conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Landscape Supply, Marietta, Georgia — screened fill dirt | $30 per cubic yard | Delivery within 25 miles; minimums apply. Obtain a quote for the delivery address. |
| Tierra Supply Co, Clearwater, Florida — fill dirt truckload offer | $400 for up to 20 cubic yards | Shipping calculated at checkout. Written description applies the same charge to smaller amounts. Confirm the selected quantity and terms. |
| Palmetto Sand and Gravel, Upstate South Carolina — general-purpose fill | $22.50 per ton; $450 for 20 tons before tax | Page states free delivery for 15+ ton orders. Confirm service-area eligibility and final charges. |
These listings are reference points, not quotes for your property. Different products, locations and order sizes prevent a fair nationwide price range from being calculated from this small sample. Request current local prices for the same material specification and quantity.
For a simple yard-priced order, material cost is ordered cubic yards × price per cubic yard. If 10 yards are billed at an assumed $30 per yard, the material subtotal is $300. That arithmetic does not establish the delivered total or a supplier’s minimum order.
How much does a truckload of fill dirt cost?
A truckload price is useful only when you know the amount supplied and what the charge includes. Ask whether the offer means a maximum load, a fixed quantity, or a minimum charge for any amount up to the truck’s limit. Also confirm whether the unit is cubic yards or tons.
Tierra’s written offer illustrates the minimum-charge issue. Dividing its listed $400 charge by different quantities produces the following effective material rates. These are calculations from one offer, not three separate quotes.
| Amount ordered under the offer | Listed flat charge | Effective material cost |
|---|---|---|
| 5 cubic yards | $400 | $80 per yard |
| 10 cubic yards | $400 | $40 per yard |
| 20 cubic yards | $400 | $20 per yard |
The advertised capacity and the amount you need may be different. Confirm the order with Tierra because the page also shows a variant labelled “One Cubic Yard” alongside the truckload description. Additional shipping and tax must be checked.
Why can a smaller load cost more per yard?
A flat charge spread over fewer yards creates a higher effective unit cost. Compare the total bill for the amount your site needs rather than choosing the lowest rate obtained by filling a truck. Extra soil can create handling and disposal work instead of savings.
There is no single truckload capacity to insert into every budget. For capacity, payload and load-count considerations, see how many cubic yards a dump truck holds. Confirm the usable load with the supplier, particularly where access requires a smaller vehicle.
How much does fill dirt delivery add?
Delivery may be included in the product price, added per trip, or quoted for the whole order. Ask which arrangement applies before adding a separate haul allowance. Adding delivery again to an already delivered price overstates the budget.
For separately billed trips, delivery subtotal = number of trips × charge per trip. A second trip can matter more than a small difference in material rates. For bundled delivery, ask what quantity, service area and unloading conditions the bundle covers.
Give each supplier the same address and access information. Explain where the load must be dumped, whether the approach is narrow, and whether the ground or turning area may affect vehicle choice. Have the supplier confirm access and unloading arrangements rather than assuming a truck can reach every part of the property.
Does delivery include spreading and compaction?
Confirm the scope in writing. A dumped pile, material spread across an area, a finished grade and compacted fill are different deliverables. A delivery price alone does not tell you which of those tasks is included.
If a contractor will place the material, ask whether its quote includes purchasing and hauling the soil. Otherwise, a separate supplier order can duplicate a cost already included in the work. Keep equipment, labor, testing when specified, and finish work visible in your comparison.
How do you calculate your total fill dirt budget?
Use this structure: material + delivery + applicable surcharges + tax + separately quoted placement work. Check for minimum charges before multiplying quantity by rate. If the supplier quotes a package total, identify the included items instead of rebuilding them as extra charges.
Step 1: Estimate the geometric volume
For a rectangular area, cubic yards = length in feet × width in feet × depth in feet ÷ 27. Convert inches to feet first. If the depth changes across the site, measure appropriate sections or obtain a grading estimate rather than treating the deepest point as the depth everywhere.
For an area 30 feet long and 20 feet wide with an average 6-inch fill depth: 30 × 20 × (6 ÷ 12) = 300 cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives 11.11 cubic yards of geometric volume.
That calculation does not automatically specify the loose delivery quantity required after placement and compaction. Ask how the supplier and project specifications relate the delivered material to the planned finished volume. Keep any allowance explicit; a single percentage is not appropriate for every soil and application.
Step 2: Price an illustrative order
Suppose a supplier accepts an order of 12 loose cubic yards, charges an assumed $30 per yard, and delivers an assumed 6 yards per trip at $125 per trip. All of these are example assumptions, not a combined quote from the suppliers above. Choosing 12 yards here is not a prescribed compaction allowance.
| Budget item | Calculation | Illustrative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 12 cubic yards × $30 | $360 |
| Delivery count | 12 yards ÷ 6 yards per trip | 2 trips |
| Delivery charge | 2 trips × $125 | $250 |
| Subtotal before other charges | $360 + $250 | $610 |
| Effective delivered subtotal per ordered yard | $610 ÷ 12 | $50.83 |
The $610 subtotal excludes tax, additional surcharges and placement work. If the actual supplier can legally and safely bring the order in one trip, the assumed trip count changes. If delivery is included, remove the separate delivery line. Recalculate from the actual offer rather than reusing the sample total.
How do you compare fill dirt cost per ton and per yard?
A ton measures weight; a cubic yard measures volume. Ask which ton the supplier uses and obtain a yield or density for the quoted material. Do not assume a 20-ton order is 20 cubic yards, or convert one supplier’s quote using an unrelated material’s density.
If a supplier provides density in tons per cubic yard, price per cubic yard = price per ton × tons per cubic yard. For example, an assumed $20 per ton at an assumed 1.4 tons per cubic yard equals $28 per cubic yard for material only. Those figures demonstrate the method; they are not a measured density or current price.
The conversion should refer to the same material condition as the quote. Moisture content and whether the volume is loose or compacted affect interpretation. For buying decisions, ask the supplier to quote your required quantity in its own sale unit, then compare the complete totals.
What changes the price of fill dirt?
Material description and project requirements
Read beyond labels such as common fill, clean fill, screened fill or select fill. Ask what the supplier means, where the material comes from, and what documentation is available. Do not assume that two products with similar names meet identical requirements.
Screening describes a processing step; it does not by itself establish environmental suitability or approval for structural work. For foundations and other performance-sensitive projects, use the specified material and acceptance requirements. A price guide cannot select an engineering specification for the site.
Quantity, hauling and handling
Record minimum charges, loading fees and whether different quantities change the trip count. Compare the same requested amount across suppliers. An attractive bulk rate can be less useful when it requires buying more than the project needs.
Keep material supply separate from any excavation, removal, spreading or compaction work. A contractor’s larger earthwork quote may combine these tasks, so ask for a scope breakdown before comparing it with a bare material listing.
Fill dirt versus a growing layer
Do not choose between fill dirt and topsoil solely on price. Identify whether the project needs rough fill, a growing surface or both. A separate topsoil layer should have its own quantity and budget; the Topsoil Calculator can estimate that material.
If the project is lawn repair, check the method and materials before ordering deep fill. Our guide to leveling a lawn covers that separate task. Pricing enough soil is useful only after the intended treatment is clear.
Is free fill dirt actually cheaper?
Free material can still have a delivered and placed cost. Compare the full arrangement: who loads it, who transports it, what quantity is available, where it will be dumped and whether it suits the project. A zero material charge does not answer those questions.
Ask about the source and any information needed to establish suitability. If inspection, testing or specific acceptance is required for the work, include that in the decision. Consider how unsuitable material would be handled before agreeing to receive it. Neither a free offer nor a paid listing alone establishes quality.
How can you compare supplier quotes?
Send the same short request to each supplier: the site address, intended use, estimated quantity, required material description and desired delivery arrangement. Then put the responses into a common format.
| Quote field | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Product and suitability | Material description, source and any required documentation |
| Quantity and unit | Actual supplied yards or tons; loose or other stated volume basis |
| Material charge | Rate, flat-load charge and any minimum bill |
| Delivery | Included or separate; trip count, service area and access conditions |
| Other charges | Tax, fuel or other surcharges, waiting or special handling if applicable |
| Placement scope | Dumping, spreading, grading, compaction and other work included or excluded |
| Final total | Written amount for the same requested scope and quantity |
Use the total for your required order as the main comparison, then check the scope. A higher rate per yard can still produce a lower order total if the delivery structure is better suited to your quantity. Conversely, a cheaper quote is not equivalent if it leaves essential work or material requirements out.
Fill dirt cost FAQs
How much does 10 yards of fill dirt cost?
At an assumed $30 per yard, 10 yards cost $300 for material. A flat-load seller may charge a different amount even when you request the same volume. Add or confirm delivery, minimum charges, tax and placement before treating either amount as your project budget.
Does a truckload price include delivery?
It depends on the offer. Ask whether the listed amount covers material only, a delivered order or a minimum charge. Confirm the actual load quantity and unloading location; the word “truckload” does not establish those details.
Is fill dirt cheaper than topsoil?
Compare local quotes for the products your project needs. Fill and topsoil serve different purposes, so a price difference alone should not decide the purchase. If you need both bulk fill and a growing layer, price their quantities separately.
Is screened fill dirt the same as clean or structural fill?
Do not assume the labels are interchangeable. Ask what screening removes and what other suitability or acceptance information is available. Structural applications must follow the actual project requirements rather than a seller’s label alone.
Why can a smaller order cost more per yard?
Minimum material charges and haul trips are spread across fewer yards. Divide the full comparable order subtotal by the amount supplied to see the effective cost, while keeping excluded work and tax clearly identified.
Sources and pricing scope
Local supplier listings checked October 17, 2026: Georgia Landscape Supply screened fill dirt, Tierra Supply Co truckload offer and Palmetto Sand and Gravel fill dirt. Prices and availability can change. The examples are not a national price survey or a quote for your address.
Flat-load unit rates are derived from the published offer. Project-budget and conversion examples use explicitly stated assumptions. Confirm current material, delivery and placement terms before ordering.