Fill-dirt in Fife, WA

Local prices for fill-dirt in Fife fluctuate with supply, haul distance, and seasonal demand. Typical delivered ranges in the Pacific Northwest are roughly $15 to $45 per ton, but the best way to get an accurate price is to request a quote through Hello Gravel for your zip code; we’ll show current rates and any delivery fees. Remember our minimum order is 3 tons and deliveries are by dump truck (usually tri-axle), with free delivery in many areas depending on supplier and distance. Next-day delivery is available for orders placed before noon CST for an extra fee.

Hello Gravel connects you with local suppliers and contracted haulers that serve Fife and the surrounding West Washington area, including Tacoma-area aggregate yards and regional pit operators. Suppliers vary by zip code and material availability, so when you enter your address on our site we’ll list the local vendors who can deliver to your site. If you have a preferred supplier or notes about color/texture, add that in Order Notes at checkout.

One cubic yard of material covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. For quick planning: 100 sq ft at 1 inch needs ~0.31 cu yd (about 0.43 tons); a 600 sq ft area at 1 inch needs ~1.85 cu yd (about 2.6 tons). For a typical driveway base you might place 4 to 8 inches of material, so multiply the per-inch quantity by that depth; use Hello Gravel’s calculator for exact quantities by entering your dimensions.

Fill-dirt is commonly used to raise grades and fill low spots, and many regional blends compact well when placed and compacted in lifts. However, because Fife has a wet, marine-influenced climate and often silty or glacial soils, pure fill-dirt (which can contain fines) will drain slower than crushed rock; for areas needing good drainage or heavy loads, a gravel or crushed rock base under the fill is recommended. Always compact in 4 to 6 inch lifts and consider a drainage layer or perimeter drains for low spots to avoid long-term saturation and settlement.

Permit requirements depend on the amount of material and the planned work. Small grading or minor yard fills often do not need a permit, but larger fills, changes to drainage, significant grading, or work in regulated areas likely require a permit from the City of Fife or Pierce County; stormwater rules and critical areas (wetlands, streams, steep slopes) may add requirements. Check with the City of Fife Planning and Building Division before ordering and contact our team if you need guidance on what to ask the city.

Labor and equipment costs vary by project size, access, and site prep; for small residential jobs expect contractor pricing for spreading, grading, and compaction in the range of $30 to $75 per hour for labor plus equipment charges, or roughly $1 to $4 per sq ft installed for straightforward grading jobs. Mechanical compaction (plate or roller) is recommended and may be billed separately; for full site work with excavation, hauling, and compaction, many homeowners see total installed costs (material plus labor) that reflect both material price and complexity of access. Ask contractors for itemized bids and use Hello Gravel quotes for material-only comparisons.

Common uses include raising yard grade, building gentle swales, backfilling behind retaining walls, and creating building pads where permitted. Typical failure modes are uneven settling (especially if placed in large lifts or on organic soils), erosion on exposed slopes during heavy rain, and poor drainage leading to saturation and rutting. To reduce problems, remove organics where possible, place and compact in lifts, protect exposed slopes with temporary erosion control, and provide drainage paths or pipe where necessary.

Fill-dirt is usually the most economical option for bulk elevation changes and non-structural backfill, but it typically has more fines and poorer drainage than crushed rock or roadbase. Crushed rock and engineered roadbase provide superior drainage, load-bearing capacity, and compaction for driveways and structural bases, while topsoil is for planting and is not suitable as a structural fill. For driveways and areas with vehicle loads in Fife’s wet climate, plan on a crushed rock or roadbase layer topped by select fill if needed for grade.

Minimize settling by stripping organic material from the placement area, placing fill in 4 to 6 inch lifts, and mechanically compacting each lift to specified density. Use erosion control (straw, silt fence, seed/mulch) on slopes and install temporary or permanent drainage (swales, French drains) to keep water away from new fill. For building pads or areas near structures, consult a contractor or engineer to confirm compaction requirements for your intended load.