How Much Does Fill Dirt Cost in Florida?

National cost guides put delivered fill dirt at $5 to $25 per cubic yard, or $4 to $15 a ton. A dump truck load of 10 to 14 cubic yards runs about $150 to $400 with delivery. Rough spreading after the drop adds about $200 to $400.

One national guide puts the average fill dirt project in 2026 at $842, and most homeowners pay $344 to $1,339. These are market numbers from published guides, not our price list. Buying the dirt is one part of the job. The other part is spreading and grading the fill so the lot sheds water.

How much does fill dirt cost per yard and per truckload?

Fill dirt is usually priced per cubic yard or per truckload, one guide says. Another also lists it by the ton.

The truckload prices assume about 10 to 14 cubic yards, delivered without installation. Some sellers fold delivery into the per-yard price, and others list it as a separate line item, one guide says. Ask which one your quote uses.

What kind of fill dirt do you need?

Standard fill dirt is subsoil: broken-down rock, clay, sand and some debris. One guide lists its jobs as leveling holes and raising the ground level. The guides sort it into a few types.

• Unscreened fill. It still holds rocks and debris. One guide prices it at $8 to $15 per cubic yard, for basic filling where precision is not critical.
• Screened fill. It is sifted to remove debris for a smoother finish. Another guide prices screened or clean fill at $8 to $25 per cubic yard.
• Clean fill. It is screened to remove organic matter and debris. One guide calls it a stable choice for building, at $10 to $18 per cubic yard. Mixed fill costs less, $8 to $13, but its debris or organic material can cause unpredictable settling.
• Structural fill. It is engineered for compaction and stability. One guide calls it the right choice under a foundation or a road. The guides list $15 to $25 and $10 to $30 per cubic yard.

For a house or barn pad, ask the builder or engineer which fill the plans call for. One guide says some building inspections require structural fill bought through the engineer’s chosen suppliers.

Fill dirt vs topsoil: which one goes where?

Fill dirt goes underneath. One guide says it sits below the topsoil and skips the organic matter, so it stays put once compacted. Topsoil settles or erodes over time, the same guide says, and it costs more.

Topsoil goes on top, where grass will grow. Another guide says topsoil should be 4 to 6 inches deep for a new lawn. It lists topsoil at $10 to $50 per cubic yard, against $5 to $25 for fill dirt. Many grading contractors charge for fill dirt and topsoil separately, a grading cost guide notes.

How much fill dirt do you need?

Measure the length, width and depth in feet. Multiply them, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.

Say a pad is 50 by 60 feet and needs 1 foot of fill. That is 3,000 cubic feet, or about 111 cubic yards. At 10 to 14 yards a load, that comes to about 8 to 12 dump truck loads.

A yard of fill covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, one guide says. At 6 inches deep, a yard covers 55 square feet. Round up, and that guide adds 5% to 10% for waste and spills.

What moves the price of fill dirt?

• The type of fill. One guide calls the type one of the primary cost drivers. Structural fill costs more than basic fill in both guides.
• How much you order. Buying in bulk often lowers the per-yard rate. Suppliers often set minimum orders, which can raise the price of a small job.
• Distance. Larger trucks and longer distances cost more, one guide says. Another lists hauling fees of $10 per mile for every mile past 5 miles.
• Hourly haulers. Haulers without set delivery fees may charge $65 to $100 an hour, one guide says.
• Access. Delivery costs more for remote lots and spots that are hard to reach. One guide says a loaded dump truck will avoid driving over a ditch or a culvert. It also says to keep the truck off a yard when the ground is wet.
• Spreading and grading. Most delivery crews drop the load at the curb or driveway. Rough spreading adds $200 to $400 in one guide. A grading cost guide puts rough grading at $1 to $2 per square foot.

One guide warns that fill dirt can settle or shift over time. It ties that to how well the fill is spread and compacted.

Why do Florida lots get raised with fill?

Federal soil surveys describe Myakka sand as a poorly drained soil of Florida’s flatwoods. Its water table sits less than 18 inches down for part of most years. The survey’s sample site for EauGallie sand, another flatwoods soil, is west of Melbourne. That soil’s water table rises within 6 to 18 inches of the surface for part of the year.

Raising the ground level is one of the jobs fill dirt is for. Florida’s building code says lots are graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls. The grade must fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet out from the house. On flat ground with a high water table, fill is one way to get that fall.

Brevard County’s code has a fill rule. It requires a land alteration permit once the filled areas on one parcel total three-quarters of an acre. Minimal fill for house pads, septic systems and roads built with an approved building permit is exempt. The county’s planning and development office answers the question for your lot; inside a city, ask the city’s planning office. Our Brevard County land clearing permits guide covers the clearing rules.

Who spreads and grades the fill on your lot?

Buying fill and placing it are two different jobs. BW Clearing spreads, levels and grades fill on lots and acreage around Melbourne and Brevard County. That covers house pads and barn pads and low spots that hold water after rain. It also covers the grade under a dirt or gravel driveway. The work runs on our skid steer and rented excavators.

The fill can be a load a supplier delivers, or dirt from a pond dug on the same lot. Finish grading for sod and the landscaping after it are another trade.

We look at the lot, the low spots and the access, then put a free quote in writing. Start on our land grading page, see our site preparation planning, or call or text (904) 719-0443.