Fill-dirt in Cleveland, TN

Prices for fill-dirt in West Tennessee and Cleveland can vary a lot by supplier, haul distance, and whether the material is screened. Typical retail ranges are roughly $7 to $25 per ton, but local rates may fall outside that range. Check your zip code on Hello Gravel or request a quote for an exact, up-to-date price including delivery.

Hello Gravel works with a network of local suppliers and haulers in the Cleveland area and will match your order to a nearby source that offers delivery. Supplier names and availability change by zip code, so enter your address on our site or call our team to see which local quarries or pits can deliver to your property.

Much of the Cleveland area has clayey soils that hold water and have higher shrink-swell potential, so plain fill-dirt can compact poorly or shift when wet. Fill-dirt is fine for bringing grade up or filling hollows, but for driveways you should place and compact a structural base (crushed stone or engineered fill) on top of or instead of loose fill-dirt to ensure long-term performance and drainage.

Hello Gravel has a minimum order of 3 tons and commonly delivers on tri-axle dump trucks that typically carry about 12 to 18 tons depending on local limits and truck configuration. Delivery fees depend on distance, site access, and whether you choose next-day delivery; many areas qualify for free standard delivery but confirm pricing in checkout. If you need smaller quantities, ask our team about split loads or local small-quantity options.

Use this two-step method: first calculate cubic yards = (area in sq ft * depth in inches) / 324; then convert to tons by multiplying cubic yards by about 1.2 (typical fill-dirt weight). For example, a 10 by 100 ft driveway at 3 inches needs about 9.3 cubic yards or roughly 11 tons, and a 50 by 50 ft area at 6 inches needs about 46 cubic yards or roughly 55 to 56 tons. Use our online calculator or contact sales for site-specific help.

Most small residential deliveries do not require a permit, but large fills, grading that changes drainage, or work in regulated areas (floodplains, wetlands, or protected slopes) can require permits or inspection. Always check with the City of Cleveland Planning/Zoning or Bradley County offices before bringing large volumes, and let us know if you need documentation so we can help coordinate.

Uncompacted fill-dirt will settle noticeably over months to years, especially in wetter clay soils common around Cleveland. Proper installation—placing fill in thin lifts with mechanical compaction—reduces long-term settlement, but for structural areas or driveways you should use engineered fill or a stone base to avoid rutting and continued settling. Periodic maintenance like topping low spots is normal after settlement.

Crushed stone or class 2 road base is a much better choice for driveway subbase and drainage because it sheds water and compacts to a stable surface. Bankrun gravel is a cheaper bulk option for rough grading but contains fines and may not drain as well as crushed stone. Topsoil is best for planting but should not be used under driveways; pick the product that matches the function—structural stability, drainage, or planting—given Cleveland's clay-prone soils.

Labor and equipment costs vary by scope, but for a small residential job expect machine rates and operator time to run roughly $75 to $200 per hour depending on equipment (skid steer, mini-excavator, or small bulldozer) and local demand. Homeowners who spread by hand can save money but may need to rent a plate compactor or small roller (typically $50 to $150 per day) and allow extra time for settling and regrading.

Yes. West Tennessee gets heavy rain periods in spring and fall, and wet clay soils perform poorly when saturated, so schedule deliveries and compaction during drier weather if possible. Freeze/thaw cycles are milder than in northern states but can still affect settling in late winter and early spring, so plan final grading and compaction for the warm, dry season when possible.