What Types of Dirt Removal Do We Handle?
Dirt removal is the load-out portion of any project that generates excess material — grading cuts, excavation spoils, and site prep all produce dirt that has to go somewhere. We handle removal as part of a full grading or excavation scope, or as a standalone service when material is already stockpiled and needs to be moved.
- Excavation spoils removal — load and haul material generated from foundation, pool, utility, or pad excavations
- Grading cut export — excess material from site grading that can't be redistributed on-site as fill
- Post-demo debris with dirt — mixed loads from demolition scopes that include concrete and dirt combined
- Stockpile removal — previously stockpiled material from prior grading or construction that needs to be cleared
- Rock removal — granite, decomposed granite, and hardpan removed during cuts in foothill properties
- Topsoil removal — stripping organic topsoil from a pad or driveway footprint before structural fill or base rock
- Import material correction — removing previously imported fill that failed or was placed incorrectly
What Does Dirt Removal Cost in Northern California?
Dirt removal is priced per cubic yard — that rate includes loading, trucking, and tipping fees at the destination facility. Volume, material type, haul distance, and facility fees all affect the final number. Clean, inert fill dirt is cheapest to dispose of; mixed or contaminated material costs more.
- Clean fill dirt or sandy soil: $20–$35 per cubic yard all-in (load + haul + tip)
- Mixed soil and rock: $30–$50 per cubic yard — rock adds loading time and weight
- Heavy clay: $25–$45 per cubic yard — heavy by weight, affects truck payload per load
- Mixed demo debris with dirt: $40–$60 per cubic yard — higher tipping fees at most facilities
- Kiefer Landfill (Elk Grove, Sacramento): clean inert fill tipping fee $5–$15 per cubic yard
- MRWMA (Auburn, Placer County): clean fill $8–$20 per cubic yard; mixed loads higher
- Cal-Waste and Republic Services transfer stations: accept C&D material — pricing varies by load classification
- Volume calculation: 1 cubic yard = approximately 27 cubic feet — a typical compact truck load is 5–8 cy; a standard dump truck 10–14 cy
Cut, Fill, or Export — How Site Grading Affects Dirt Volume
Not all grading produces spoils that leave the site. A balanced cut-and-fill site uses the cut material as fill elsewhere on the property — no export needed. Sites that cut more than they fill (net cut sites) generate spoils. Sites that fill more than they cut (net fill sites) require imported material. Dirt removal cost is zero on a balanced site — knowing the cut/fill balance before starting avoids surprise haul costs.
- Balanced grade: cut material redistributed as fill on-site — minimal or no export needed
- Net cut: excess material must be exported — volume × haul rate = export cost
- Net fill: site needs imported fill to reach design grade — fill costs $15–$30 per ton delivered in most NorCal areas
- Swell factor: excavated soil expands 15–30% compared to in-place volume — affects truck count and cost estimates
- Bank yards vs. loose yards: excavation quantities are measured in bank cubic yards (in-place); hauling is loose cubic yards — convert before pricing
- Soil classification: expansive clay (common on Sacramento Valley floor) is often excluded from structural fill applications — may need to be exported even if volume is balanced
Where Does the Dirt Go? Disposal Options in Northern California
Dirt doesn't disappear — it has to go to a legal disposal or reuse destination. Most residential and commercial job dirt goes to a local landfill, transfer station, or clean-fill receiving site. Clean inert fill can sometimes be donated to sites that need fill material, eliminating tipping fees entirely.
- Kiefer Landfill (Elk Grove): accepts clean inert fill and C&D material — primary destination for Sacramento-area jobs
- MRWMA South Placer Facility (Auburn): serves Placer County and foothill projects
- Cal-Waste and Republic Services: C&D transfer stations in Sacramento and surrounding areas
- Clean fill exchanges: clean native soil is sometimes accepted by grading contractors, farmers, and land developers at no cost — we check availability at time of project
- Contaminated soil: requires soil testing, waste manifest, and permitted disposal facility — costs significantly more; flag any known contamination (UST sites, chemical storage) before excavation
- Fill reuse on-site: if the project includes a fill application (driveway, pad, berm), cut material may be reused rather than exported — saves disposal cost
Related Services
Hauling & Debris
Remove brush, concrete, dirt, demolition debris, green waste, and jobsite material.
Excavation
Dirt removal, trenching, small excavation, rough grading, and site support work.
Grading
Prepare land for pads, driveways, drainage, ADUs, shops, garages, and future construction.
Site Prep
Clearing, demolition, grading, hauling, and equipment work to prep your property.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dirt removal cost in Northern California?
Expect $20–$60 per cubic yard all-in for load, haul, and disposal at a local facility. Clean sandy fill dirt runs at the low end; mixed soil and rock, heavy clay, or loads with construction debris run higher. Tipping fees at Kiefer Landfill (Sacramento) and MRWMA (Auburn) are $5–$25 per cubic yard for clean inert fill, more for mixed or classified material.
How many cubic yards of dirt can a dump truck carry?
A standard 10-wheel dump truck carries 10–14 cubic yards of loose material. A tandem or semi-end dump can carry 16–22 cubic yards. Weight limits apply — heavy clay or wet material loads out at fewer yards per trip due to weight restrictions. When estimating haul costs, use 10–12 cy per load as a conservative baseline for a standard dump truck.
Can I give away clean dirt instead of paying to dump it?
Sometimes, yes. Clean native soil — free of rock, organics, and construction debris — is occasionally accepted at no cost by grading contractors, homeowners building berms, or agricultural operations that need fill. Availability depends on timing and location. We check at project time whether a clean-fill exchange is viable. It's not reliable as a budget assumption, but it eliminates disposal cost when it works out.
What's the difference between dirt removal and debris hauling?
Dirt removal is soil, rock, and native material generated from grading, excavation, and earthwork. Debris hauling covers demolition waste, concrete, wood, metal, green waste, and mixed jobsite material. The disposal destination, tipping fee, and sometimes the equipment used differ. Mixed loads with both dirt and construction debris are classified at the debris rate — separating clean dirt from demolition material on-site can reduce disposal cost.
Do I need to test soil before removing it?
For most residential grading and site prep, no — clean native soil doesn't require testing before disposal at a standard landfill. Testing is required if there's known or suspected contamination: former underground storage tanks (USTs), commercial fueling operations, dry cleaning, industrial use, or agricultural chemical storage. If you're aware of any prior land use that could involve soil contamination, disclose it before excavation — contaminated soil disposal is a separate, regulated, and significantly more expensive process.