How Much Does Hauling Dirt Cost?
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Whether you need to haul dirt away from your location or to your location, it isn’t going to come free if you plan on hiring a professional. The cost of hauling dirt will depend on the company you choose, the amount of dirt you need to have hauled, the distance traveled and your geographical location.
How much does hauling dirt cost?
Before any dirt is loaded into a truck, plan on paying a minimum of $50 to $150 per trip alone. This will greatly depend on the geographical location, the type of dirt being hauled and the distance being traveled. From there, a dirt hauling company will often quote you in “cubic yards,” which is a cubic of a yard that’s three feet wide, long and tall. By the yard, plan on spending between $22 to $26 for fill dirt and up to $40 to $50 per yard for a screened topsoil delivery.
If you want to have the dirt taken away from your property, it can cost $400 to $800 per truckload. For example, Ace Hauling, a company we found online, charged $575 for a 13 to 16 cubic yard truck to take the dirt away and dump it, according to the website.
Other companies may charge by the hour to haul away. If this were the case, the hourly rate can be anywhere from $80 to $105 per hour.
Hauling dirt overview
If you’re having dirt hauled to your home, contractors will often offer the following types of topsoil: loam/loess, clayey, organic-rich or a blend of organic plus sand.
A typical load size for most companies will be around 8 to 10 tons per single axle or up to 15 tons for a double rear axle. Tilt or pup trailers, which will be your largest option, can dump as much as 25 tons on one trip.
Including the transportation fee, the delivery company will deliver the dirt to you and dump it in the location of your choice as long as it’s accessible by the truck.
Companies that are able to haul or deliver dirt can include junk removal services, tractor services, landscaping companies and specialty hauling services. To order, simply call them up and let them know how much you need. Once your credit card and personal information is taken over the phone, it can be delivered within the next few days, depending on the time of year and how busy the company is.
What are the extra costs?
Filtered dirt, commonly used for landscaping projects, will be free of stones and twigs. This type of dirt can cost more.
A distance surcharge may be charged by the company if the dirt has to be picked up.
If the job requires any special equipment, these rental fees will be your responsibility.
Any sloping or grading will come at a cost since these delivery services will only dump the dirt in a location and nothing else.
Tips to know
How much does a cubic yard of dirt weigh, you may be wondering? This will depend on the material being measured, but usually, the soil will weigh close to 2,000 pounds per cubic yard.
How can I save money?
With any professional service, get as many quotes as you can. With the Internet, it’s extremely easy to find quotes listed on the official company website or with a simple phone call. Be careful, however, as some companies may charge you on the “load” amount and they won’t include the travel surcharge. Because of this, always make sure you get an out the door price.
If you have dirt at home that you want to have hauled away, put a free ad on Craigslist. Many people are more than willing to come to your location to pick it up at no charge.
For smaller hauls, a local landscaper or rock supply company will often be your best option. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, consider renting a truck from Home Depot and pick up the dirt yourself; again, this is ideal for those who need smaller loads. If going this route, just make sure you know your hauling ability.
- Bigger trucks that carry around 22 cubic yards of dirt can cost $700 to $900.
- A truck that can carry up to 20 cubic yards of dirt charges anywhere from $175 to $395 depending on the amount of dirt placed on the actual truck.
- Bigger trucks that carry around 22 cubic yards of dirt can cost $700 to $900.
- A truck that can carry up to 20 cubic yards of dirt charges anywhere from $175 to $395 depending on the amount of dirt placed on the actual truck.
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Average Reported Cost: $7726.5
How much did you spend?
- Morris General Construction, Inc. (Fulton, Mississippi) paid $14503 and said:
We have 14,503 sq yard of dirt fill
Was it worth it? Yes
- Rich F (Malibu, California) paid $950 and said:
We had 16.45 cubic yards of dirt to be hauled away and it cost us $950. The dirt was from a remodel project because we added new footings in our foundation so it was 95% dirt and 5% concrete chunks.
Was it worth it? Yes