Fill Dirt in Wells Branch, TX

Delivered fill-dirt prices in the Wells Branch area vary by supplier, truck distance, and volume, but expect a typical range of about $20 to $40 per ton or roughly $150 to $450 per tri-axle truckload. Hello Gravel’s minimum order is 3 tons, and exact pricing is available after you enter your zip code and delivery date. Taxes, site access issues, and next-day delivery fees (if requested) can increase the final price.

Fill-dirt is useful for raising grade and filling low spots, but it is not a good surface material for driveways because it compacts, erodes, and muds out in wet weather. For driveways you should place compacted structural fill under the base and finish with crushed rock or Class 5 road base; use fill-dirt only as the raising layer below the compacted base. In Central Texas soils (clay and caliche) proper compaction and drainage are especially important to avoid settlement.

Common options are 'clean fill' or 'structural fill' (screened subsoil with low organic content) and 'borrow' (locally sourced clay/soil). For load-bearing or grading projects order structural fill that can be compacted; avoid topsoil or organic-rich fill where you need long-term support. Because materials are regionally sourced, expect local clay/caliche characteristics in Wells Branch and note any preference in your order notes.

Fill-dirt alone is generally not recommended as the structural base for a concrete slab unless it is engineered and compacted to spec; crushed rock or Class 5 road base is the usual subbase. If you need to raise the grade before placing a slab, use compactable structural fill to bring levels up and then place 3-4 inches of crushed stone under the slab. For a 20x20 slab, plan for about 5 cubic yards (roughly 6.5 to 8 tons) of compacted base material rather than loose topsoil or raw fill-dirt.

Calculate volume first: length x width x depth (in feet), then divide by 27 to get cubic yards and multiply by about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard for fill-dirt. Example: to raise a 20 ft long by 10 ft wide driveway by 3 inches requires 20 x 10 x 0.25 = 50 cubic feet = 1.85 cubic yards, or roughly 2.4 to 2.8 tons. Remember Hello Gravel has a 3-ton minimum order, so small raises may still require a single truckload.

'Poor man’s concrete' usually refers to mixing soil or gravel with cement to get a hard surface (soil-cement), but typical fill-dirt in Wells Branch often contains clay and organics that make such mixes weak and unpredictable. For small patches it can sometimes work if you use clean, well-graded fill and proper ratios, but for structural or load-bearing work it's not a cost-effective or reliable substitute for proper concrete or engineered bases. We recommend talking to our team before using soil-cement so you choose the right materials for your site conditions.

Standard fill-dirt does not harden like concrete; it is intended for filling and grading. Products that harden are typically called soil-cement, stabilized base, or polymer-stabilized mixes and are different products from plain fill-dirt. If you want a hard, walkable surface, order a stabilized base or crushed stone product rather than fill-dirt, and check availability for your Wells Branch delivery.

No — fill-dirt is not suitable for drainage applications because it compacts and can retain water, which may cause settlement and poor drainage. For drainage trenches and dry wells use clean, washed gravel or crushed stone and geotextile fabric as recommended. If you need fill afterwards, place clean material above the drainage stone and compact in layers to avoid future settling.

Class 5, Type 2, and similar labels refer to road-base and crushed stone products rather than fill-dirt. If you specifically need dirt to raise grade, look for 'clean fill', 'structural fill', or 'borrow' in our product list and describe the use in Order Notes. If you are unsure which to pick, contact our team — for Wells Branch we will recommend the right regional product based on whether you need compaction, drainage, or a finished surface.

For a typical 20x20 slab, base materials (compacted crushed stone) are a relatively small portion of total cost, often a few hundred dollars depending on material and placement. Expect roughly 5 cubic yards (about 7 to 8 tons) of compacted base for a 4-inch subbase; if you also need to raise the grade with structural fill, add the calculated cubic yards at fill-dirt rates. Exact costs in Wells Branch depend on local supplier pricing, delivery, and any site work such as compaction or spreading.