Cost to Deliver Landscaping Fill

Topsoil Prices Per Cubic Yard

Bulk topsoil costs between $12 and $55 per cubic yard, including delivery. Exact rates can depend on moisture content, type of organic materials, and geographic location.

Some mulch yards sell topsoil for $6 to $20 per scoop, depending on the amount and quality of material. A scoop is equal to half a cubic yard but may vary by supplier. Homeowners choose to purchase materials by the scoop when they need smaller amounts and have access to a truck or trailer, because it's less expensive than buying topsoil by the bag. If you do not have access to a vehicle, you can rent a truck or trailer for an additional cost.

As with most purchases, you get what you pay for. The quality of dirt you need will depend on your intended use. Some providers may sell fill dirt scraped from construction sites as "bargain topsoil," but it may contain too much debris and not enough organic matter.

Topsoil is one of the major factors in the cost of seeding a lawn, cost of installing sod, and other landscape projects. For these projects, you will need material with ample organic content to provide nutrients for the plants.

Screened Topsoil Prices

Expect to pay about $20 per cubic yard, depending on consistency. Manufacturers filter screened topsoil through mesh to ensure consistent particle size, a feature that encourages plant growth by evenly dispersing both nutrients and water. Homeowners can choose a particle size of five-eighths or three-fourths inches.

Topsoil Delivery

If delivery charges are not included in the price of the topsoil, expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $150. Factors include the amount of material you need, distance traveled, and difficulty of access. Orders of more than 8 cubic yards of topsoil, more than 20 miles of travel, or delivery in tight, urban areas will fall on the high end of this estimate.

Topsoil Prices by Bag

Bagged topsoil costs $2 to $5 per bag or about $35 to $180 per cubic yard.

Bulk Topsoil vs. Buying by the Bag

If you buy topsoil by the bag instead of in bulk, expect to pay about $100 per cubic yard. Bagged material from local home and garden or big box stores ranges from $2 to $5 per 40-pound bag, or $35 to $180 per cubic yard.

Due to its higher price point, bagged topsoil should only be used for small areas. In most cases, home improvement stores will deliver bagged material for a flat rate of $100.

Black Dirt Prices

Screened black dirt costs about $15 per cubic yard. Delivery charges for orders between 1 and 15 cubic yards run between $75 to $140 per load, not including the material itself.

Though they are often used interchangeably, black dirt and topsoil are not necessarily the same. Dirt that is black may be from drained swampland, or it may simply have higher levels of iron or magnesium. If you are unsure which type to use for your project, consult a landscaping professional.

Fill Dirt Costs Per Yard

Fill dirt runs about $5 to $15 per cubic yard, depending on the type. Fill dirt serves as a base for driveways as well as trench and septic backfill. It is also a major part of the cost of filling in a pool.

Choose fine, medium, or coarse bank run fill, also known as gravel, depending on your project. If you are unsure of which type to choose, consult a landscaping or grading professional.

How Much Is a Truckload of Dirt?

Expect to pay between $150 and $450 for a truckload of fill dirt, including delivery. One truck will typically hold 10 to 13 cubic yards of material.

Clean Fill Dirt Cost Calculator

Clean fill dirt sells for $8 to $15 per cubic yard. Homeowners should budget $40 to $75 for a typical project requiring five cubic yards of fill to be spread three-plus inches deep over 500 square feet. This type of dirt costs more because it is screened to remove contaminants, debris, and organic matter, making it more even-textured.

It's important to note the difference between clean and certified dirt. Certified fill is clean fill that meets certain quality control standards ensuring it is free of foreign organic materials. It comes in a variety of classifications and is best for construction, leveling, or drainage projects. Prices vary by classification and supplier, but expect it to be more expensive than clean fill.

Septic fill, another type of clean fill, runs from $12 to $30 per ton. Contractors use septic fill, also called manufactured sand or concrete sand, specifically around septic tank installations. Septic fill does not retain moisture, so it won't settle or clump.

Cost of Sand Per Ton

Price of sand ranges between $5 to $30 per ton, depending on the type. Natural sand will typically cost less than specialty sand. Screened sand costs about $15 to $20 per cubic yard and is suitable as a base for paving projects like driveways. You can also use sand for sandboxes and hardscaping. Salt sand is priced at $40 per cubic yard and is used on driveways as ice melt.

Sand Delivery Costs

Expect to pay between $50 and $150 for sand delivery for residential purposes. Factors that may increase rates include large amounts of material, extended distances from the supplier to the location, and/or any circumstance that would make the delivery more difficult. For instance, your home may be in a residential area that is difficult to access for large, multi-axle dump trucks.

Masonry Sand by the Load

Expect to pay $25 to $45 per ton of masonry sand. This amount will cover about 35 square feet when spread 1 inch thick. Contrary to its name, masonry sand is all purpose. In addition to masonry work, you can use it for plastering, playground sand, concrete mixing, paving, or ground cover/stabilizer.

Screened Loam Prices

Screened commercial loam costs about $17 per cubic yard. Super loam, a 50/50 loam/compost blend, costs about $25 per cubic yard. Composed of sand, silt, and clay, loam contains more nutrients, moisture, and organic matter than other soils. Better drainage, increased water and air retention, and easy tilling make loam the perfect garden soil.

Mulch, Rock, and Other Material Delivery Pricing

No matter the material, loads of between 1 and 15 cubic yards of fill materials typically cost between $50 and $150 to deliver. Large loads, remote destinations, and difficult-to-access areas will increase delivery charges. In some cases, suppliers include these costs in per-ton or per-cubic-yard price quotes, but you should always double check with your supplier to be sure.

Mulch

Nationwide, the cost of mulch ranges from $100 to $300, averaging $175. Mulch helps keep plants moist in dry weather and protects plant roots from pests.

Delivering Rocks, Stones, Gravel, & Riprap

Rocks, stones, riprap, and gravel (including crusher run, crushed limestone, pebbles, rock base, and caliche) range from $15 to $100 per ton or more with delivery included. That's about $20 to $120 per cubic yard.

If delivery fees are separate, estimate double the price per cubic yard. However, some suppliers charge a flat rate or a reduced per-yard fee for large orders.

Clay

Clay ranges in price from about $35 to $40 per cubic yard, including delivery. Clay is not suitable for planting, but you can use it for decorative purposes, animal stalls, or tracks and ballfields.

Average Rates for Dump Truck Hauling & Delivery

Dump truck hauling and delivery rates will vary depending on the size of the truck, usually defined by the number of axles. Be aware that some vehicles cannot operate on residential streets.

If you want to haul your own materials, you can rent a truck or trailer from a local hardware store or a rental service. You may need a special license to operate certain vehicles.

Set Fee

Some companies that offer soil, mulch, and rock delivery will have a set fee for all items being delivered. If this is the case, figure out everything you will need delivered so that you don't have to pay double delivery costs.

Per Hour

Other companies may not have a set delivery fee, but will charge by the hour at a rate of $65 to $100. In this case, you will want to be sure your site is prepped for easy access and quick offloading of materials to save on time.

Distance to House

If you live far away from the supplier, you may be charged extra for distance. Alternatively, the service provider may have a gas fee they charge on top of their normal delivery prices. Make sure to check before you have your items delivered to see if your location falls within their normal delivery area.

Yard Accessibility

Do you live down a narrow, curving gravel road? Across a wobbly bridge? At the end of a driveway where it is impossible for a truck to turn around?

Limited or difficult accessibility can add to your budget or even make delivery impossible for some companies. If you think your home may fall into the category of difficult accessibility, make sure to tell your driver ahead of time. If they arrive at your home and are unable to deliver your materials, you may get charged anyway for the trip!

FAQs

How Much Soil, Dirt, Sand, or Mulch Do You Need?

For small projects, you can usually guess at how many bags of topsoil you need. For larger spaces, you'll need to calculate the amount of cubic yards you need to cover.

1. Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
2. Multiply length and width to obtain square footage.
3. Multiply square footage by the depth of topsoil you need in feet, i.e. 3 inches = ¼ foot to get cubic feet.
4. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.

How Do I Get the Best Prices on Landscaping Materials Near Me?"

The challenge with purchasing large amounts of landscaping materials for DIY backyard landscaping projects is minimizing the cost associated with delivery.

If you have a truck and live close to a mulch yard or quarry, you may be able to save time and expense by delivering and unloading the material yourself. However, a landscaping professional will likely be able to save you money by purchasing the materials at their cost and delivering it with their own dump truck.