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What Fill Dirt Is and Where It Is Used

Fill dirt is subsoil excavated from below the topsoil layer, usually 12 or more inches down. Because it contains almost no organic matter, it does not decompose or shift after placement, which makes it the structural material of choice for raising grade, backfilling foundations, filling old swimming pool holes, and building up low spots before paving. A cubic yard of it weighs 2,200 to 2,500 lbs dry, so it stays where you put it. What it cannot do is grow anything: plan a 4 to 6 inch topsoil cap wherever grass or plants will live.

Compaction: Why You Order 20% Extra

Loose fill dirt is full of air pockets. Once it is spread, wetted, and tamped or rolled, those pockets collapse and the volume drops by about 20%. Contractors manage this by placing fill in lifts, layers of 4 to 6 inches that are each compacted before the next one goes down, which prevents the sinking and cracking that plague single deep dumps. The practical consequence for ordering is simple: take the finished volume from the fill dirt calculator and multiply by 1.2. A 10 cubic yard hole needs about 12 yards delivered, every time.

Weight, Trucks, and 2026 Prices

At 1.25 tons per cubic yard, fill dirt is heavy enough that logistics drive the real cost. A standard dump truck carries 10 to 14 cubic yards per load, roughly 12.5 to 17.5 tons, while a half-ton pickup manages only about half a yard per trip. In 2026, expect $8 to $20 per cubic yard picked up and $15 to $40 delivered depending on distance. Ask for clean fill, confirm the load is free of debris and contaminated soil, and get the delivery fee in writing before the truck leaves the yard.