Fill Dirt: Size, Uses, and Cost Per Ton (2026)
Also called: Clean Fill, Structural Fill
Fill Dirt at a Glance
| Size | Fine to coarse soil particles, free of organic matter like roots, grass, or leaves. |
|---|---|
| Weight per cubic yard | 2,200 to 2,800 lbs (1.10 to 1.40 tons) |
| Cubic yards per ton | 0.71 to 0.91 |
| Cost per ton | $6 to $11 per ton |
| Cost per cubic yard | $6 to $21 per cubic yard |
| 10-ton truckload | $60 to $110 before delivery |
| Compaction | Moderate (10%). Locks up with a plate compactor. |
| Drainage | Good. Drains well, a few fines in the mix. |
| Best for | Grading and leveling, Filling holes and depressions, Raising elevation, Backfill behind retaining walls |
| Wrong for | Planting or gardening, Surface applications, Drainage systems |
Need Fill Dirt? See yards near you that stock it and ask them for a price.
Find Fill Dirt near meWhat Is Fill Dirt?
Subsoil material free of organic matter, used for grading, filling, and raising elevation. Fill dirt is a lower-grade soil that lacks the nutrients of topsoil, making it ideal for structural and non-growing applications where settling must be minimized.
How Much Fill Dirt Do I Need?
Draw your project area on the map to get an instant material estimate for Fill Dirt.
Plan your fill dirt project
Type your address, trace the area on a satellite photo, and see how many tons to order.
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What Yards Charge for Fill Dirt, October 2026
- Median per ton
- $9
- Middle half $7 to $11. 31 prices from 15 yards.
- Median per cubic yard
- $11
- Middle half $6 to $22. 21 prices from 12 yards.
Cheapest in Connecticut, median $7 per ton. Most expensive in Nebraska, median $10.
| State | Median per ton | Middle half | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $7 | $7 to $7 | 3 |
| New York | $7 | $6 to $9 | 6 |
| Nevada | $10 | $9 to $12 | 6 |
| Nebraska | $10 | $10 to $11 | 4 |
From prices yards publish on their own websites, for the fill dirt alone, before delivery and tax. A state is listed once it has three or more prices. Updated monthly; the next update is due November 3. Gravel prices by state.
What Fill Dirt Costs in 2026
Fill Dirt costs $6 to $11 per ton, or $6 to $21 per cubic yard. A 10-ton single-axle truckload runs $60 to $110 before delivery. An 18-ton tandem load runs $108 to $198. Delivery adds $50 to $150 within 10 to 15 miles of the supplier.
| Quantity | Material cost |
|---|---|
| 1 ton | $6 to $11 |
| 1 cubic yard | $6 to $21 |
| 10-ton single-axle load | $60 to $110 |
| 18-ton tandem load | $108 to $198 |
| 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep | $7 to $18 |
Often the cheapest material to have delivered. Some contractors give it away free from excavation sites — check local classifieds.
Prices vary by region and order size. See the gravel cost per ton guide and the delivery cost guide.
How Much Fill Dirt for Common Projects
Tons include 10% compaction and a 10% waste allowance. Formula: cubic yards = square feet x depth in inches / 324.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons to order | Material cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 20 ft patio (200 sq ft) | 2 in | 1.2 | 1.6 to 2.1 | $10 to $23 |
| 12 x 40 ft driveway (480 sq ft) | 4 in | 5.9 | 7.9 to 10.0 | $47 to $110 |
| 3 x 50 ft walkway (150 sq ft) | 3 in | 1.4 | 1.8 to 2.4 | $11 to $26 |
Different size? Use the gravel calculator or convert with the tons to yards calculator.
Compare Fill Dirt With Other Materials
Side-by-side size, cost, drainage, and best-use comparisons.
- Fill Dirt vs Pea Gravel
- Crushed Stone vs Fill Dirt
- Crushed Limestone vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs River Rock
- Decomposed Granite vs Fill Dirt
- #57 Gravel vs Fill Dirt
- #8 Gravel vs Fill Dirt
- Crusher Run vs Fill Dirt
- #89 Stone vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Topsoil
- Brown Shredded Mulch vs Fill Dirt
- Black Shredded Mulch vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Rip Rap
- Compost vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Washed Gravel
- Bank Run Gravel vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Marble Chips
- Fill Dirt vs Lava Rock
- Fill Dirt vs Stone Dust
- #411 Gravel vs Fill Dirt
- Construction Gravel vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Recycled Asphalt
- Bluestone vs Fill Dirt
- Fill Dirt vs Jersey Shore Gravel
- Fill Dirt vs Mexican Beach Pebble
- #4 Stone vs Fill Dirt
Fill Dirt by City
Suppliers stock Fill Dirt in these cities:
Find Fill Dirt Near You
Share your location and the closest yards that stock fill dirt come first, with miles and a phone number.
Every yard that stocks fill dirt
Yards with published prices first.
Indianapolis, Indiana
14880 Brighton Rd, Brighton, Colorado
2594 Port Sheldon St, Jenison, Michigan
999 Narragansett Trl, Buxton, Maine
330 E 14th St, Elmira, New York
15800 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Norcross, Georgia
Heise Rd, Charlevoix, Michigan
1783 E 1500 Rd, Lawrence, Kansas
Albuquerque, New Mexico