Topsoil Cost Guide: Price Per Cubic Yard, Delivery, and Bags

Purchasing topsoil is generally inexpensive, but the cost of delivery can quickly turn a budget-friendly project into an expensive home upgrade. If you only need a few yards of soil, shipping charges can easily exceed the cost of the dirt itself.

This guide breaks down current average costs for bulk and bagged topsoil, plus delivery fees you can expect from suppliers.

Average Cost of Bulk Topsoil

In bulk, topsoil is priced and sold by the cubic yard. A cubic yard is a 3ft × 3ft × 3ft block (27 cubic feet) and covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep.

• Standard Screened Topsoil: $20 to $40 per cubic yard. (Cleaned of rocks and weeds).
• Premium Garden Soil Mix: $35 to $60 per cubic yard. (Higher nutrients, ideal for vegetable gardens).

Topsoil Delivery Trucking Costs

Trucking fees are usually flat rates based on distance or time. Most landscape supply yards charge a flat fee of $50 to $150 per delivery within a 10-15 mile radius.

This means if you order 1 cubic yard of topsoil ($30) with delivery ($100), the total is $130. However, if you order 8 cubic yards of topsoil ($240) with delivery ($100), the total is $340, which averages out to a much more affordable $42.50 per yard. Always try to group your orders to save on delivery fees.

Bagged Soil Cost Comparison

A standard 40-pound bag of retail topsoil (0.75 cu ft) costs between $2.50 and $6.00 per bag. While this seems cheap, let's run the math to compare it to bulk rates:

Since 1 cubic yard = 36 bags (of 0.75 cu ft):

36 bags × $4.00 = $144.00 per cubic yard

Compared to bulk soil ($30/yd), bagged soil is nearly five times more expensive! If your project requires more than 2 cubic yards of soil, ordering a bulk dump truck delivery is almost always the more cost-effective option.