Frequently Asked Questions
Leveling dirt typically costs $1 to $2 per square foot for rough grading and $0.08 to $1.00 for fine grading, according to Lawn Love's 2026 guide, or about $770 to $3,000 for a typical yard. Imported fill adds about $5 to $15 per cubic yard, and slope, access and region change the price.
Filling in a pool with dirt typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 according to Fixr, with full removal at $5,000 to $15,000. The dirt is a small share: a 12 by 24 by 6 foot pool needs about 64 cubic yards, roughly $510 to $960 at Angi's $8 to $15 per yard for unscreened fill.
Fill dirt from road construction usually comes from the contractor's surplus excavation, which DOT specs such as WisDOT's make the contractor dispose of off the right of way, with written permission from the receiving property's owner. The prime or grading contractor is the one to ask, ideally with a nearby, legal dump site.
Construction sites dig up and refill soil to replace ground that cannot carry the planned load, such as organic topsoil or soft, loose soil, with fill compacted in thin lifts to a tested density, often 8 inches or less under federal specs. Digging also makes room for footings and utilities before trenches are backfilled.
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