Fill Dirt in Lake County, TN

A typical tri-axle dump truck carries about 10 to 14 cubic yards of loose fill-dirt and will usually weigh about 12 to 18 tons depending on moisture and composition. Delivered prices in the Tennessee region to Lake County commonly fall in the range of about $350 to $800 per truckload, but costs vary with distance, supply, and current market rates. For an exact price, get a quote through Hello Gravel using your zip code and delivery details.

Fill-dirt prices delivered to Lake County commonly range from about $12 to $35 per cubic yard (rough estimate) or roughly $15 to $45 per ton, depending on local supply, hauling distance, and how clean the material is. Prices can change seasonally and by supplier, so we recommend requesting a live quote on Hello Gravel for the most accurate delivered price. Remember our minimum order is 3 tons, which may affect per-unit cost for very small projects.

Use the formula: cubic yards = (length in feet x width in feet x depth in feet) ÷ 27. For example, a 20-foot long driveway that is 10 feet wide at 6 inches (0.5 ft) depth needs about (20 x 10 x 0.5) ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards, so order 10-20% extra for settlement and compaction (about 4.5 cu yd). Convert to tons by multiplying cu yd by roughly 1.2 tons/cu yd (so about 5.4 tons), and note Hello Gravel has a 3-ton minimum which may require ordering slightly more than the calculated need.

For a 10x10 patio at a typical 4-inch depth (0.333 ft) you need (10 x 10 x 0.333) ÷ 27 = about 1.23 cubic yards, so round up to about 1.5 cu yd including waste and compaction. That equals roughly 1.8 tons using a 1.2 tons/cu yd conversion, but Hello Gravel's minimum order is 3 tons so you may need to buy a full minimum load. Delivery for that minimum order to Lake County will generally fall in the local price ranges (see our per-truck or per-cubic-yard estimates) and exact cost is available by entering your zip code at checkout.

Measure the area (length x width in feet) and decide on the depth in feet, then divide the product by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards: (L x W x Depth) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. To estimate weight, multiply cubic yards by about 1.1 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard for fill-dirt (a common rule of thumb is 1.2 tons/cu yd); finally add 10-20% for compaction and settling. If you want help, use Hello Gravel’s material calculator or contact our team with your project dimensions for a quick estimate.

Hello Gravel coordinates delivery of fill-dirt and you can request tailgate spreading at checkout, but spreading is performed at the driver's discretion and is not guaranteed. If you need professional spreading and compaction, most local contractors charge separately—small jobs often run a few hundred dollars while larger grading jobs can be $500 to $2,000 depending on scope and equipment needed. For precise installation costs, we recommend getting quotes from local landscapers or excavation contractors after you know the amount of material to be delivered.

DIY installation is possible for small jobs using basic tools (shovels, wheelbarrow) and renting a plate compactor (typically $60 to $120/day) or a small skid-steer/minidigger for larger moves (rentals commonly $200 to $500/day). Budget for extra time and a helper, and plan on buying a little more material to account for settlement and compaction. Hiring professionals saves time and ensures proper grading and compaction; labor and equipment for contractor-installed spreading often cost more but reduce the risk of future settling or drainage problems.

Fill-dirt can settle over time, especially if it contains organic material or is not properly compacted, which can create low spots or drainage changes near foundations. For areas that need to support loads (driveways, foundations) or where drainage is critical, engineered fill or compacted structural fill (or adding a base of crushed stone) may be a better choice. If you are unsure, we recommend consulting a local contractor or engineer and ordering clean fill-dirt from Hello Gravel with the right compaction plan to reduce future issues.

In many cases hauling in modest amounts of fill-dirt for a yard or small driveway does not require a permit, but changes to lot grading, drainage, or work in regulated areas (floodplains, wetlands, or right-of-way) may require permits or inspections from Lake County or Tennessee state agencies. Hello Gravel does not handle permits, so we recommend contacting Lake County planning or zoning before starting large grading projects to confirm local rules. If you need help, our customer service team can point you to local resources and advise on typical permit scenarios.

Standard delivery lead time through Hello Gravel is two or more business days, and next-day delivery is often available for orders placed before noon CST for an extra fee. You can select a preferred delivery date on our checkout calendar, and we will confirm timing once a local supplier and hauler are assigned. Keep in mind truck access, site clearance, and weather can affect the exact drop-off time, and drivers may decline tailgate spreading if conditions are unsafe.