Fill Dirt in Moody, TX

Delivered fill dirt in the Moody/West Texas area commonly falls in the range of about $10 to $30 per ton, depending on local availability, truck distance, and material quality. Prices are lower when material is locally sourced and bought in larger quantities, and higher when long haul or select screened fill is needed. For an exact delivered price to your property, request a quote with your zip code and delivery access details.

Local suppliers include construction yards, landscapers, and farms that offer clean fill, plus regional quarries for larger projects. Hello Gravel’s standard minimum order is 3 tons, but many local haulers run tri-axle trucks that carry about 10 to 14 tons; some suppliers prefer larger minimums for longer hauls. Expect standard delivery in 2+ business days, with next-day delivery sometimes available if ordered before noon CST.

Moody’s native soils tend toward clay and shrink-swell behavior, so fill dirt placed without proper preparation can settle, crack, or hold water. West Texas’s dry spells and episodic heavy rains make moisture control and compaction essential to reduce future movement and improve drainage. For critical areas, plan for proper compaction, drainage features, and consider engineered or select fill to reduce risk.

For a typical residential driveway, place fill dirt in 4- to 6-inch lifts and compact each lift with a plate compactor or roller until it is firm; a final packed depth of 6 to 8 inches of compacted fill is common before a gravel surface. If the subgrade is soft or clayey, add geotextile fabric and start with a more granular base to improve drainage. Ask your contractor about moisture conditioning and a compaction test for long-term performance.

Metal building pads usually require 8 to 12 inches of compacted, well-graded fill or engineered fill, placed in 4- to 6-inch lifts and compacted to contractor or engineer specifications. For buildings, a verified compaction level (often specified by a soils report) is recommended and a gravel base beneath concrete slabs is common to reduce moisture migration. For anything structural, consider a geotechnical evaluation to set depths and compaction targets.

As a rule of thumb for typical West Texas fill dirt, one inch of loose fill equals about 1.35 tons per 1000 cubic feet; that works out to roughly 2.1 tons per inch for 500 sq ft, 4.2 tons per inch for 1,000 sq ft, and 8.3 tons per inch for 2,000 sq ft. Account for compaction and settlement by increasing quantities about 15% to 25% for compacted fills, so plan on roughly 2.5, 5.0, and 10.4 tons per inch respectively when calculating delivered amounts. Multiply by the number of inches you need (for example, 6 inches x 5.0 tons = about 30 tons for 1,000 sq ft at compacted volumes).

Local labor and equipment rates vary, but typical ballpark figures in the Moody/West Texas area are: operator labor $50 to $100 per hour, skid steer or bobcat $80 to $150 per hour, excavator $150 to $300 per hour, and compaction equipment $50 to $100 per hour. Many contractors will offer day rates or lump-sum pricing for spreading and compacting a truckload, so small jobs often have a minimum charge. Get at least two local estimates and clarify whether delivery, spreading, grading, and compaction are included.

For small residential fills, permits are often not required, but large grading projects or fills that change drainage or affect neighboring properties commonly need a permit from McLennan County or the City of Moody. Clean, uncontaminated fill is generally acceptable, but importing waste or contaminated soil is prohibited; always check county and city permitting rules before delivery. Contact McLennan County Development Services or the City of Moody for specific requirements and to confirm whether a grading permit or engineered plans are needed.

Common alternatives include crushed rock (good drainage and load-bearing, more expensive), crusher run (fines plus rock that compacts well for driveways), and select or engineered fill (graded and tested for building pads). Crushed rock and crusher run perform better under traffic and in poor clay conditions, while basic fill dirt is cheaper and fine for raising grade where load and drainage are not critical. Local prices typically place basic fill dirt as the least expensive option, crusher run and crushed stone higher, and select/engineered fill as the priciest; ask Hello Gravel for local delivered quotes to compare.