Fill dirt costs $5 to $25 per cubic yard, or roughly $150 to $400 for a full dump truck load delivered, and the biggest factors in your final price are how many yards you order, how far the dirt travels, and whether you need common fill, select fill, or topsoil.
That is the short answer. The longer answer is worth two minutes of your time, because fill dirt is one of the few construction materials where the delivery often costs more than the product itself. Order it the smart way and you can cut your project cost nearly in half. Order it the wrong way and you pay big-box bag prices for something that should cost a fraction of that.
At American Dirt Delivery, we deliver common fill, select fill, and topsoil by the dump truck and 18-wheeler load across Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Sacramento. Here is what we tell our own customers about pricing.
Fill Dirt Prices at a Glance (2026)
| What you are buying | Typical 2026 price |
| Fill dirt, per cubic yard | $5 to $25 |
| Fill dirt, per ton | $4 to $15 |
| Full dump truck load (10 to 14 yards), delivered | $150 to $400 |
| Certified clean or screened fill, per yard | $8 to $30 |
| Select fill (engineered, spec-grade), per yard | $15 to $35 |
| Topsoil, per yard, for comparison | $10 to $50 |
| Spreading and rough grading, per load | $200 to $400 extra |
Sources: 2026 cost data published by HomeGuide, Angi, and HomeAdvisor, cross-checked against what we see in our own markets. National surveys put the average total homeowner spend at about $836 per project, with most jobs landing between roughly $340 and $1,340. Those wide national ranges are exactly why you should always get a local quote instead of budgeting from an averages article.
One more number that matters: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. To estimate what you need, multiply length by width by depth in feet, divide by 27, and round up. Or skip the math and use the calculator on our Tools page.
What Actually Drives the Price of Fill Dirt
1. Volume: bulk pricing is the whole game
Dirt gets dramatically cheaper per yard as volume goes up. Loading a truck costs the supplier nearly the same whether it carries 8 yards or 14, so a full truckload almost always beats two half loads. This is why our wholesale model exists: we source dirt locally in each metro and sell by the full truckload, which is how customers get, as we like to say, twice the dirt for half the cost. If your project needs 50 yards or more, 18-wheeler delivery drops the per-yard price even further. One belly dump or end dump trailer can move roughly double what a standard tandem dump truck carries, which means fewer trips and fewer delivery fees.
2. Distance from the source
Most suppliers build 10 to 30 miles of delivery into the base price, then charge $3 to $10 per additional mile. Dirt is heavy and cheap, so trucking dominates the cost. A supplier with a pit or an active dirt source near your site will beat a supplier hauling across the metro every single time. This is also why prices differ between our markets: Houston clay fill from a nearby excavation is priced differently than screened fill trucked across the Denver metro.
3. Type of dirt
Common fill, also called clay fill, is the workhorse and the cheapest option. It is unscreened subsoil, ideal for raising low areas, filling holes, filling in old pools and ponds, and building up grade around a foundation. Select fill costs more because it is a specified clay and sand blend that compacts predictably, which is what engineers require under slabs and structures. Topsoil costs the most because it is the organic, plant-supporting layer. If you are not sure which one your project calls for, read our guide to fill dirt vs topsoil vs select fill before you order. Buying topsoil where common fill would do is the most expensive mistake in this industry.
4. Delivery speed
Flexibility is worth real money. At American Dirt Delivery we price delivery in three tiers: Economy, delivered within 15 to 45 days, Priority, delivered within 7 to 15 days, and Top Priority, delivered within 1 to 3 days. Economy orders let us pair your delivery with dirt already moving in your area, and that efficiency shows up as a lower price. If your grading crew is standing on site tomorrow, Top Priority gets you dirt fast. If your project can wait a few weeks, Economy is the cheapest way to buy dirt in any of our markets.
5. Site access
A tight gate, low power lines, soft ground, or a steep driveway can force a smaller truck, more trips, or a street dump, all of which add cost. A fully loaded tandem dump truck can weigh 50,000 pounds or more, so drivers will not back onto a surface that cannot take it. Walk your delivery path before you order and tell your supplier what the truck will face. Our delivery policy covers exactly how and where we can dump.
Regional Pricing Notes: Dallas, Houston, Denver, Sacramento
Dallas and Fort Worth. DFW sits on expansive blackland clay, and constant construction means dirt is always moving. Common clay fill is plentiful and competitively priced, and select fill to spec is in steady demand for foundation pads. See our Dallas dirt delivery page for ordering.
Houston. Flood-prone lots make raising grade the number one use for fill in the Houston area, and clay fill spread around a home’s foundation is one of our best sellers. Volume is high, which keeps truckload pricing sharp. Order through our Houston page.
Denver metro. Front Range pricing runs somewhat higher per yard than Texas because sources are fewer and haul distances longer, which makes full-truckload ordering even more important. We cover the metro from Denver to Arvada, Aurora, and Littleton.
Sacramento. California trucking costs are the highest of our four markets, so the spread between a partial load and a full load is widest here. Our Sacramento area pages cover Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom, and surrounding cities.
How to Pay Less for Fill Dirt
- Measure once, order once. A second delivery for a shortfall costs far more than rounding up the first order. Use the free calculator first.
- Order full truckloads. The per-yard price on a full 10 to 14 yard load beats any partial load.
- Choose Economy delivery when your schedule allows it.
- Use common fill for bulk and structure, and cap with topsoil only where things will grow.
- Get a competing quote and let us review it. We publish a low price guarantee: send us any better written quote before you order and we will review it for a price match. We will not be beat.
Fill Dirt Cost FAQs
How much is a truckload of fill dirt?
A standard dump truck load of 10 to 14 cubic yards typically costs $150 to $400 delivered in 2026, depending on your metro, the haul distance, and the dirt type. Larger 18-wheeler loads cost more per load but less per yard.
How many yards of dirt are in a dump truck?
Most standard tandem dump trucks haul 10 to 14 cubic yards of dirt, limited by weight rather than bed volume. Our guide to how many yards fit in a dump truck breaks down every truck size we run.
Is delivery included in the price of fill dirt?
Sometimes. Some suppliers quote material only and add delivery by the mile, while others, including American Dirt Delivery, quote a delivered truckload price for your city. Always confirm whether a quote is picked up or delivered before comparing.
What is the cheapest way to get fill dirt?
Full truckloads of common fill on a flexible delivery window. Free dirt from excavations exists, but it is unscreened, unverified, and you wait on someone else’s schedule, which is risky under anything structural.
Does fill dirt cost more than topsoil?
No. Fill dirt is the cheaper material, typically $5 to $25 per yard against $10 to $50 for topsoil, because it contains little organic matter. That lack of organics is also why it compacts well and belongs under slabs, driveways, and raised grades.
Get a Real Number for Your Project
National averages will not pour your pad or level your lot. Real pricing comes from your zip code, your yardage, and your timeline. Tell us those three things and we will quote your delivered price today, backed by our low price guarantee.
Call 713-859-6500 or request your free dirt quote now. Wholesale truckload pricing in Dallas, Houston, Denver, and Sacramento, delivered as fast as 1 to 3 days.
