How Much Does Fill Dirt Cost? [2025 Data]
Fill dirt for landscaping costs an average of $832 for a truckload, though costs may range from $342 to $1,333 depending on where you live and the type of soil you purchase.
Delivery companies charge by cubic yard, with fill dirt costing between $5 and $30 per cubic yard and mulch costing between $50 and $150.
The cleaner the soil, the more expensive it is, with topsoil being one of the pricier options.
You could pay half as much if you transport the dirt yourself, but this is a laborious project.
Bags of soil will cost two to three times as much as buying soil in bulk.
Buying fill dirt and hardscaping materials like topsoil and sand probably isn’t your favorite pastime. But fresh hardscaping materials will help your landscape and garden flourish, so it’s well worth the extra cost. Many homeowners pay about $832 for a truckload but take a look at what could affect the price for your next project.
Cost of Fill Dirt Near You
Prices for landscaping fill and other materials like topsoil and sand vary based on where you’re located. Rural areas will likely have higher delivery fees and may even require multiple trips in smaller trucks if your site is hard to access.
Here’s an estimate of going rates for materials throughout the U.S.
Austin, TX: $1,000
Boston: $750
Chicago: $550
Denver: $1,500
Miami: $650
Minneapolis: $500
New York City: $800
Portland, ME: $700
Seattle: $950
San Francisco: $1,550
How Much Does Fill Dirt Cost by Type?
Different types of dirt, topsoil, sand, mulch, and rocks can impact your project’s price, with fill dirt costing as little as $5 per cubic yard and mulch costing as much as $150 per cubic yard in some cases.
Here's the average cost of different types of fill dirt, by cubic yard:
| Dirt Type | Cost per Cubic Yard | Cost per Truckload |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | $12–$55 | $150–$600 |
| Fill dirt | $5–$30 | $150–$450 |
| Sand | $15–$40 | $300–$700 |
| Mulch | $50–$150 | $150–$550 |
| Rocks, stones, gravel, and riprap | $20–$120 | $450–$600 |
How Much Does Dirt, Sand, Mulch, and Rock Cost per Cubic Yard?
Expect to pay an average of $5 to $150 per cubic yard for hardscape options like dirt, sand, mulch, or rock, with unfiltered dirt coming in toward the lower end of that range and rock coming in toward the higher end.
Fill Dirt Cost Breakdown
Most of the cost for your project goes into the materials, labor, and delivery. Here’s a quick breakdown of how each factor impacts the total price of your fill project.
Materials
Hardscape materials cost anywhere from $5 to $150 per cubic yard, not including delivery fees. The price can go up depending on if you hire a local landscaping company to deliver and install the fill dirt or if you choose delivery only or rent a truck to pick it up yourself.
Labor
Haulers might charge you a flat rate or an hourly rate of $65 to $100 per hour, so be sure to check your quote or ask for more information on the price breakdown to see how they calculated their labor fees.
Delivery
Most delivery trucks charge anywhere between $7 and $55 per cubic yard for hauling and delivering dirt. The price depends on the size of the truck, the number of axles, and the weight of your materials. Keep in mind that some delivery trucks may not operate on narrow streets in residential areas, so ask ahead of time to avoid any delays.
Land Leveling and Clearing
The cost to level and clear a yard ranges from $1 to $2 per square foot, averaging $2,175. Leveling and clearing your land is important to ensure that you have a stable base for your fill. It also helps with drainage and prevents erosion.
Cost to Haul and Deliver Fill Dirt Yourself
Hauling and delivering landscaping materials can be a laborious DIY project, depending on how much material you need. To rent a trailer, you’ll pay just $25 per half-day on average. For a pick-up truck, you’ll spend $45 for half a day. Dump truck rentals cost $75 per day, but you might need to acquire a special license to operate one of these trucks.
DIY vs. Hiring a Contractor
Most landscaping and delivery companies will use a set rate for delivering your items, but other companies might charge around $65 to $100 per hour to deliver your materials.
Though you can save by DIYing your materials, it’s often easier to just hire a landscaping company to install the landscaping materials—especially for large projects that require lots of transportation, as the time and effort will likely negate any real benefits you’d get from doing it yourself.
Contractors often have their own vehicles for transporting materials and may even have special deals on the materials that make it simpler and more cost-effective to just go with their services.
| Soil Type | DIY Cost per Cubic Yard | Pro Cost per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | $12–$55 | $19–$55 |
| Fill dirt | $5–$30 | $12–$55 |
| Sand | $15–$40 | $27–$55 |
| Mulch | $50–$150 | $62–$150 |
| Gravel | $20–$120 | $27–$120 |
How You Can Save Money on Fill Dirt, Soil, Sand, and Rock
If you’re on a tight budget, sometimes you just want to get the job done as affordably as possible. Here are a few tips for saving on fill dirt, soil, sand, rock, and other hardscaping materials.
Buy in Bulk
You can save on hardscaping materials by buying in bulk. For example, topsoil costs around $20 per cubic yard on average if you buy in bulk, but if you buy topsoil by the bag, you’ll pay around $100 per cubic yard.
Choose a Local Supplier
Another way to save is by choosing your supplier wisely. Always go for bulk orders from a local landscaping company to get the most out of your purchase. Delivery fees can easily increase in price if you choose a material from a supplier located hundreds of miles away.
Ask a Friend to Help
Speaking of fees, consider using your own truck or trailer—or a friend’s vehicle—to pick up your materials rather than renting a vehicle on your own. This can help you avoid those fees altogether.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main benefit of topsoil is that it enriches the soil with nutrients that help your plants and garden grow at a healthy rate. Topsoil improves how well your soil drains water and gives it a more fertile texture, so that not only do you get better planting, but weeding is also much easier.
The number of bags of topsoil you need depends on the depth you’re filling. The average topsoil is sold in a roughly forty-pound bag, covering 12 square feet at a one-inch depth. Since topsoil is by nature the uppermost layer of soil, you can bet on only needing to fill about 4 to 8 inches of soil depth with it.
Buying topsoil in bulk or a bag depends on how much area you’re trying to cover. Even if it goes on sale, bagged topsoil isn’t as cheap as buying it in bulk, but transporting bulk topsoil can become cumbersome if you don’t have the proper truck. If you can find an easy delivery option and have the space to store a large amount of topsoil, buying in bulk will give you more bang for your buck.
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