Fill Dirt in Central-Alameda, CA

Screened fill dirt in Central-Alameda usually ranges about $40 to $70 per cubic yard delivered, depending on supplier availability, seasonal demand, and how far the truck must travel. Prices can be higher for small orders or specialty screened mixes; use your zip code to get an exact quote.

A typical 10–12 cubic yard dump-truck load of fill dirt delivered to Central-Alameda will usually fall between $400 and $900, depending on material type, hauling distance, and access at delivery. Hello Gravel’s marketplace can provide supplier-specific quotes and delivery windows for your address.

Fill dirt is generally cheaper per cubic yard than decorative gravel, and it’s the right choice for grading, adding elevation, or creating subgrade beneath turf in Central-Alameda. Use gravel when you need drainage, a stable walking surface, or a finished look; choose screened fill dirt for smooth grading and tidy top layers.

You can use gravel for some backfill or leveling tasks, but gravel drains well and won’t compact like fill dirt, so it can settle and shift under lawns or concrete. For structural fills, final grades, or under sod, screened fill dirt is usually a better, more economical choice; use gravel where drainage or surface stability is the priority.

Raising 1,000 sq ft by 6 inches requires roughly 18.5 cubic yards of material (1,000 ft² × 0.5 ft = 500 ft³ ÷ 27 = 18.5 yd³). At Central-Alameda delivered rates of about $40–$70 per yard, expect the material and delivery to cost roughly $740 to $1,300, plus any spreading or compaction labor.

Both local aggregate suppliers and some big-box stores deliver, but big-box deliveries are often limited in load size and may be pricier per cubic yard once delivery is included. For bulk fill-dirt jobs in Central-Alameda, local suppliers accessed through Hello Gravel usually offer better pricing and scheduling for dump-truck deliveries.

Drivers may be able to do limited tailgate spreading at their discretion, but spreading and compaction are not guaranteed services and depend on site access and safety. If you hire contractors for spreading and compaction in Central-Alameda, expect additional fees commonly ranging from $150 to $600 for small jobs, or hourly rates of $50 to $150 depending on equipment and crew size.

A cubic yard of fill dirt typically weighs around 1.0 to 1.3 tons depending on moisture and compaction, so use about 1.2 tons per cubic yard as a rough rule of thumb. When ordering in Central-Alameda, check whether suppliers price by the cubic yard or by the ton and confirm minimum order requirements before checkout.

Screened fill dirt has rocks and large debris removed, making it easier to grade, seed, and compact for lawns and finished landscaping in Central-Alameda. Unscreened fill is cheaper and fine for large bulk fills or rough grading but may contain rocks and organic material that hinder compaction and final surface work.

For small landscaping fills you typically won’t need a permit, but any structural fills under foundations, retaining walls, or where grading affects drainage may require permits and compaction tests from the City of Alameda or Alameda County. Check local building department rules before large fills and consider using engineered or tested fill if the project affects structural elements.