Fill Dirt in Lauderdale County, TN

Delivered prices vary with distance, source, and truck size, but expect roughly $10 to $25 per ton (about $12 to $30 per cubic yard when using 1.2 tons per cubic yard as a rule of thumb). Heavy local demand, long haul from a quarry, or a next-day request can push the price toward the high end. Use Hello Gravel's quote tool for an accurate delivered price in your ZIP code.

Hello Gravel connects you to local producers and haulers in the Tennessee region; many landscape yards and small suppliers will deliver a minimum of 3 tons, which matches our platform minimum. Quarries and commercial haulers often work by truckload (single tri-axle loads typically 10 to 20 tons). If you need less than a truckload, ask about shared loads or smaller landscape-supply deliveries when you request a quote.

To raise 1 acre by 1 inch you need about 134 cubic yards, which is roughly 160 to 190 tons depending on moisture and compaction. Local clay soils and compaction method will affect the final amount, so plan for a 10% to 20% margin. Use Hello Gravel's material calculator or get a site visit estimate for a more precise number.

For a 20 ft by 20 ft two-car driveway, 6 inches of fill is about 7.4 cubic yards, roughly 9 to 11 tons. Larger driveways (24 ft by 24 ft) need closer to 10.7 cubic yards or about 12 to 14 tons. Always measure your exact driveway area and allow extra for compaction and grading waste.

In Lauderdale County, soils can be clayey and parts of the county lie in Mississippi River floodplain areas, so fill-dirt may have poor drainage and higher settlement risk if placed over organic or saturated soils. Proper site prep is essential: remove organic topsoil, undercut soft spots, and compact in layers to reduce future settlement. For areas with high water table or frequent flooding, consider engineered structural fill or a crushed-stone base instead of loose fill-dirt.

Permitting depends on the scope and location of your project. Small deliveries for landscaping often do not require permits, but larger grade changes, work in mapped floodplains, or projects that alter drainage typically need permits from Lauderdale County or local municipalities and may require FEMA/flood-plain approvals. Check with the Lauderdale County building or planning office before ordering large volumes, and consult your local zoning maps and flood maps.

Rates vary by crew, equipment, and job size. Expect small crews with a skid steer or bobcat to charge roughly $75 to $150 per hour, rollers/compactors $100 to $200 per hour, or contractors may add a spreading/placement surcharge of $5 to $15 per ton on top of material costs. Ask for itemized estimates that separate material, hauling, spreading, and compaction so you can compare quotes accurately.

Yes. Lauderdale County sees wet periods in late winter and spring and flood-prone conditions near the Mississippi River, which can limit truck access and increase the risk of tracking mud. Schedule deliveries in drier months when possible, and inform your supplier about site conditions so the driver can plan safe access or recommend alternative delivery points. Hello Gravel can help schedule around local weather and access concerns.

Use fill-dirt for general grade raising and backfill where drainage and compaction demands are moderate. For driveways, building pads, or where long-term stability and drainage matter, crushed stone or engineered structural fill is usually a better choice because it drains and compacts predictably. Use topsoil only for planting surfaces, not for structural fills; for critical structural or slab work, work with an engineer to specify appropriate engineered fill or subbase material.

Expect some settlement and surface erosion; a non-structural fill-dirt driveway may need regrading or fresh material every 3 to 7 years depending on traffic and drainage. Proper compaction, edge controls, and good drainage will extend the time between repairs. For building pads, monitor for settlement after the first rainy seasons and consult an engineer if you see significant unevenness or drainage problems.

Common local uses include raising low yards above standing-water zones, filling shallow depressions, building up base grades for lawns and landscaping, and preparing temporary access ramps for construction. In riverine or floodplain areas, homeowners sometimes use fill-dirt to elevate utilities or tie into existing grades, but larger elevation changes are usually done with engineered fill and local permitting. Hello Gravel can connect you with suppliers and haulers who have experience with similar local projects.