Dirt Removal Cost: How to Estimate It
Quick answer: haulers usually price dirt removal per truckload or per ton, not per yard. Estimate it as (number of loads × haul charge per load) + (tons × disposal fee per ton), plus digging and loading if the hauler does that too. HomeGuide’s cost guide (December 2023) reports full-service fill dirt removal at $140–$230 per cubic yard ($1,400–$2,300 per 10-yard truckload), and landfill dumping at $30–$50 per ton when you deliver it yourself. Local prices vary widely, so use these only as a starting point for quotes.
Dirt removal bills are built from a few parts. Once you know your volume, weight, and truck count, you can check any quote line by line instead of comparing totals blindly.
What goes into a dirt removal quote
- Digging and loading: excavator or skid steer time, plus labor. HomeGuide lists excavation at $2.50–$15.00 per cubic yard and trenching at $5–$12 per linear foot.
- Hauling: usually a charge per load or per truck hour. Extra mileage fees of about $3–$10 per mile may apply outside the hauler’s normal area.
- Disposal: landfill or clean-fill site tipping fees, usually per ton. Clean dirt costs far less to dump than rocky, mixed, or contaminated soil.
- Extras: permits (a dumpster permit is about $20–$90), minimum charges, rush service, and replacement topsoil if you need it.
Published price ranges
From HomeGuide’s dirt removal cost guide (written December 2023). Prices have likely risen since, and they vary a lot by region.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Fill dirt removal, per cubic yard (full service) | $140–$230 |
| Dirt removal, per ton (including dumping) | $140–$180 |
| One 10-yard dump truck load | $1,400–$2,300 |
| Rocky dirt, per cubic yard | $175–$265 |
| Wet dirt, per cubic yard | $210–$300 |
| Organic matter or compost, per cubic yard | $50–$125 |
| Landfill dumping only (self-haul), per ton | $30–$50 |
| 10-yard dumpster rental, per week | $220–$580 |
| Overweight dumpster fee, per ton over | $40–$100 |
Worked example: removing dirt from a 30 × 20 ft pad
- Volume: 30 × 20 × 2 ft = 1,200 ft³ ÷ 27 = 44.4 bank yd³.
- Weight: dry packed earth weighs about 3,200 lb per bank yard. 44.4 × 3,200 ÷ 2,000 = 71 tons.
- Loads: with 25% swell, the haul volume is 44.4 × 1.25 = 55.6 loose yd³. A tandem carries about 11.8 yd³ of this soil before reaching a 15-ton payload, so 55.6 ÷ 11.8 = 4.7, or 5 loads.
- Disposal: 71 tons × $30–$50 per ton = $2,130–$3,550 in tipping fees if the site charges by weight.
- Hauling: 5 loads × your hauler’s per-load rate. Add digging and loading if they are not quoted separately.
Run your own numbers with the dirt removal calculator, which gives bank yards, haul yards, tons, and truck loads in one step.
Ways to lower the cost
- Keep the dirt clean. Separate concrete, roots, and trash. Mixed loads cost more to dump, and some sites reject them.
- Reuse it on site: regrade low spots, build a berm, or backfill behind a retaining wall.
- Give it away. Landscapers, contractors, and neighbors often take clean fill for free. Some haulers charge less when they can resell the dirt.
- Choose the right container. Dumpsters suit tight yards and small jobs. Dump trucks are cheaper per yard on larger jobs.
- Get two or three quotes that list loads, tons, and disposal separately so you can compare like for like.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove a truckload of dirt?
HomeGuide’s guide (December 2023) lists $1,400–$2,300 for a 10-cubic-yard dump truck load with full service. If you only pay a landfill to dump it, fees are about $30–$50 per ton, and a 10-yard load of dirt typically weighs about 12–14 tons.
Is dirt removal charged by the yard or by the ton?
Most landfills and disposal sites charge by the ton with a minimum per trip. Haulers often quote per load or per hour. Convert yards to tons with the soil’s weight, about 1.2–1.4 tons per loose cubic yard for most dirt.
How can I get rid of dirt for free?
Offer clean fill on online marketplaces, ask local landscapers or contractors, use it on site for berms or grading, or watch for free dump days at your local landfill.
Why is wet dirt more expensive to remove?
Water adds weight. Wet earth weighs about 2,700 lb per loose cubic yard versus about 2,550 lb dry, so the same truck carries fewer yards and per-ton disposal fees rise.
How do I estimate dirt removal cost myself?
Measure bank cubic yards, multiply by about 1.25 for haul volume, divide by yards per truck load, and multiply loads by your hauler’s rate. Then multiply tons by the disposal fee per ton and add the two.
Related calculators and guides
Sources
- HomeGuide: Dirt Removal Cost (written December 2023)
- Caterpillar: Material Density Tables to Help Estimate Earthwork Volumes
Updated: October 17, 2026 by the YardsCalculator editorial team. Figures are planning estimates; confirm weights, truck capacity, and prices with local suppliers and haulers.