Fill Dirt in Longwood Village, TX

Prices vary by supplier and distance, but expect fill dirt in the Texas Region around Longwood Village to run roughly $8 to $25 per cubic yard for material alone. For a full dump truck (about 10 to 12 cubic yards) total delivered cost commonly lands in the $300 to $1,100 range once delivery fees are included. Exact pricing depends on local supplier rates, availability, and whether free delivery applies—check your zip code or request a quote for a firm price.

Yes, fill dirt is generally cheaper per cubic yard than most gravel types, but it serves a different purpose. Gravel provides a stable, permeable surface for driveways and paths, while fill dirt is used to raise grade or backfill and usually requires topping with gravel or crushed stone for permanent driveways. For Longwood Village projects, factor in the cost of compaction and a gravel top layer when comparing total project costs.

Use this formula: cubic yards = (square feet x inches of fill) / 324. For example, to raise a 1,000 sq ft area by 6 inches: (1,000 x 6) / 324 = about 18.5 cubic yards. Always add 5% to 10% for compaction and uneven ground, and round up to meet Hello Gravel's minimums if applicable.

A full-size pickup can sometimes carry close to 1 cubic yard, but actual capacity depends on your truck's payload rating and the dirt's moisture/weight. Hello Gravel's minimum order is 3 tons, and our typical delivery is by dump truck (tri-axle), so homeowners who need very small amounts should ask about split loads, local supplier options, or delivery to a neighbor or staging area. We recommend confirming payload limits with your truck owner’s manual before attempting a self-haul.

Many contractors will deliver, spread, and compact fill dirt as part of a site-prep service, but some will only dump material and leave finishing to you or another crew—ask when booking. Labor rates in the Texas Region vary, but $50 to $125 per hour per worker or $300 to $800 per day for a small crew is common; $100 per hour for an experienced operator or machine hire is reasonable for budgeting. Always get written scope and pricing before work begins to clarify whether spreading and compaction are included.

You can put gravel on compacted fill dirt, but for driveways and high-traffic areas we recommend a compacted granular base and, in many cases, a geotextile fabric to separate fine clay-rich Texas soil from the stone. Fabric helps prevent mixing and reduces rutting where drainage or subgrade strength is poor, and a layer of crushed stone or crusher run creates the structural base gravel needs. If your site has clay or poor drainage—common in parts of Texas—plan for extra compaction and a proper base.

Common alternatives include sand (good for drainage but less stable), engineered or structural fill (graded, compactable material for building pads), and crushed stone or crusher run (stable base for driveways). Sand costs less than engineered fill but may settle; engineered fill costs more but gives reliable compaction and support; crushed stone is best when you need a durable surface. Choose based on project needs: grading or raising ground (fill dirt or engineered fill), drainage (sand), or a stable driving surface (crushed stone).

Coverage depends on weight-to-volume, but a quick rule: 1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, and 108 sq ft at 3 inches. One ton of gravel is roughly 0.74 cubic yards (varies by material), so 1 ton covers about 240 sq ft at 1 inch, 120 sq ft at 2 inches, and 80 sq ft at 3 inches. For fill dirt, use cubic yards for ordering since weight varies with moisture and compaction—apply the same area math to cubic yards.

One cubic yard is a three-foot cube (3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft), roughly the size of a small bathtub or a compact pile you could stand on. Measure your area by marking the length and width in feet and deciding how many inches of fill you need, then use the formula (sq ft x inches) / 324 to get cubic yards. If your site has slopes, irregular shapes, or will be compacted, add 5% to 10% extra and consider asking Hello Gravel for help with the calculation.

Dump trucks commonly used for fill dirt deliveries are single-axle (6 to 8 cubic yards) and tri-axle (10 to 14 cubic yards); some jobs use larger end-dumps for bigger loads. Suppliers price by cubic yard or by ton plus a delivery fee; in suburban Texas you can expect material-plus-delivery pricing with minimums—Hello Gravel's platform shows local quotes and often a 3-ton minimum. Schedule deliveries 2+ business days out for standard service or ask about next-day delivery before noon CST for an extra fee.

Central and East Texas soils can include clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, so using properly graded, compacted fill dirt or engineered fill is important to avoid settling and movement. Hot, wet summers mean drainage matters—poor drainage can cause soft spots and erosion—so plan for compaction, proper slopes, and sometimes a drain or retaining solution. Discuss local site conditions with your supplier or contractor so material choice and compaction method match Longwood Village's weather and soil behavior.