Triple mix soil typically costs $30-$60 per cubic yard before delivery, with a common delivered total of $100-$250 for a small residential order. The final price depends on the blend, quantity, distance, local labor and whether the soil is sold in bulk or bags.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triple mix, bulk | $30 per yd³ | $45 per yd³ | $60 per yd³ | Material only; varies by blend and market |
| Bulk delivery | $50 | $100 | $200+ | Per truckload or delivery stop; distance and minimums matter |
| One cubic yard delivered | $80 | $145 | $260 | Small-order fee can raise the per-yard total |
| Bagged triple mix | $5 per 1-cu-ft bag | $8 per bag | $12 per bag | Retail price; about 27 bags equal 1 yd³ |
What a cubic yard of triple mix soil costs
Bulk triple mix generally sells for $30-$60 per cubic yard, or about $1.10-$2.20 per cubic foot, before delivery. A cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, or about 108 square feet at 3 inches. Those coverage figures assume an even layer and do not account for settling or uneven ground.
A typical small residential purchase of 1-3 cubic yards often totals $100-$300 after delivery. A larger 5-10-yard order may cost $250-$600 for soil and delivery combined when the supplier can unload one truckload at a convenient location. Quotes vary by state and supplier, so the delivered total matters more than the advertised price per yard.
Assumptions: Standard garden-grade blend, bulk purchase, ordinary access, and no spreading or grading labor included.
Triple mix commonly combines topsoil, compost, and peat moss or another organic material, but the proportions are not standardized nationwide. Some sellers use screened loam or substitute other organic matter. A lower price may reflect a simpler blend, local sourcing, or a larger order rather than poor quality; buyers should confirm the ingredients and intended use.
How topsoil, compost, and delivery shape the quote
A supplier’s quote may bundle the soil and freight or list them separately. The following ranges are useful budgeting estimates for ordinary residential orders, not fixed national rates.
| Quote item | Typical price | How it is charged | What changes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triple mix material | $30-$60 per yd³ | By cubic yard | Blend ingredients, screening, order size |
| Delivery | $50-$200+ | Per trip or truckload | Mileage, truck size, minimum charge |
| Placement or spreading | $40-$90 per hour | Per worker or crew-hour | Access, slope, wheelbarrow distance |
| Equipment | $100-$350 | Per rental or service visit | Skid steer, loader, site access |
| Removal of old soil | $15-$50 per yd³ | Plus hauling or disposal | Contamination, weight, disposal rules |
Delivery may have a minimum charge even when the material order is small. A supplier may also charge more to place soil in a backyard, move it through a narrow gate, or make multiple drops. When comparing estimates, check whether the quoted price includes tax, delivery, unloading, and any placement work.
Example: 4-6 hours of hand placement at $40-$70 per crew-hour adds roughly $160-$420, before any equipment charge.
Material is only one part of a finished project quote; delivery distance and how far soil must be moved can equal or exceed the soil bill.
Which blend and project measurements change the price?
Order volume is a major cost driver. A 1-yard purchase may carry a $50-$150 delivery minimum, while a 5-yard order can spread the same truck charge across more material. However, ordering extra soil costs money and can leave the homeowner with excess material. Measure the area and planned depth before requesting a quote.
Use this calculation: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. For example, a 600-square-foot garden bed topped with 2 inches of mix needs about 3.7 cubic yards before allowing for settling. A practical order might be 4 yards if the bed is fairly level; uneven ground or substantial settling may justify a little more.
Blend specifications also matter. Screened, consistent topsoil with mature compost may cost more than an unscreened or basic blend. Peat content, compost quality, particle size, moisture, and screening can vary. Ask whether the mix is intended for raised beds, lawn topdressing, or general planting, since a blend suitable for one use may not be ideal for another.
Site conditions can raise the delivered project price. A truck that can back up beside the bed may unload quickly; a narrow driveway, soft lawn, steep slope, or long wheelbarrow route may require hand labor or smaller equipment. Access limitations can add several labor hours, commonly increasing placement charges by $100-$400 or more.
Two project details are especially useful for a reliable estimate: cubic yards needed and the distance from the truck’s drop point to the work area. Provide both, along with the intended application, when asking suppliers for a price.
How far soil travels affects delivery charges
Local suppliers usually have lower freight costs than suppliers hauling from farther away, but the nearest source is not always the least expensive. A low material price may be offset by a high delivery minimum or a long trip. Ask for the delivered total to the actual address rather than comparing advertised yard prices alone.
As a broad budgeting comparison, suburban deliveries within a supplier’s normal service area may land near $50-$125. A longer rural route or a small order outside the usual area can reach $125-$250 or more. Dense urban locations may incur extra charges for restricted truck access, timed delivery, or difficult unloading, even when the supplier is nearby.
Local supply and seasonal demand also affect the quote. In areas with many landscape yards and nearby compost sources, bulk competition can keep material prices moderate. Remote regions may have fewer suppliers and higher freight costs. Spring demand can make delivery slots harder to secure; prices and availability depend on local operations, so there is no reliable nationwide seasonal discount.
Request the supplier’s delivery radius, truck capacity, drop-off conditions, and minimum order. A truck may carry more soil than the project requires, and the supplier may charge a partial-load or small-load rate. For a large order, confirm the quoted truck quantity and whether separate trips are required.
Compare at least two delivered quotes from suppliers serving the same address. That comparison reveals whether a cheaper per-yard listing remains cheaper after freight, minimums, and access charges.
When bags cost less than a bulk soil delivery
Bagged triple mix often costs $5-$12 per 1-cubic-foot bag. Since 27 cubic feet make a cubic yard, matching one bulk yard requires roughly 27 bags and costs about $135-$324 before tax. The bag price includes retail packaging and is usually much higher per cubic foot than bulk material, but bags can be economical for very small jobs when bulk delivery has a steep minimum.
For a few containers or a small raised bed, bags avoid arranging truck access and make it easier to carry soil directly to the work area. For a project needing 1-2 cubic yards, a bulk delivery may offer a better material rate, but its delivery fee can narrow the savings. Compare the full bag total, including the number of trips needed to bring bags home, with the delivered bulk quote.
| Project amount | Bulk material estimate | Bag estimate | Cost consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 cu ft | $6-$11 | $25-$60 | Bulk may be impractical if delivery minimum applies |
| 27 cu ft, about 1 yd³ | $30-$60 | $135-$324 | Delivery can add $50-$200+ |
| 81 cu ft, about 3 yd³ | $90-$180 | $405-$972 | Bulk is usually cheaper before spreading labor |
Bag volumes and blend descriptions vary, so check the label. A bag marked garden soil may not be the same composition as a local triple mix. For edible crops or sensitive planting, verify the ingredients and any use restrictions rather than choosing solely by the lowest price.
Bagged soil usually suits small volumes and awkward access; bulk usually wins on material price once the project needs several cubic yards.
What three triple mix soil orders may cost delivered
A small flower bed needing 1 cubic yard might have a $40 soil charge and a $75 local delivery fee, for a $115 material-and-delivery total. If the truck cannot reach the bed and a worker spends 2 hours moving soil at $50 per hour, the project reaches about $215 before tax or landscaping work.
A 600-square-foot garden receiving 2 inches of soil needs about 3.7 cubic yards by calculation. At $45 per yard, the material is about $167. A $100 delivery brings the total to roughly $267. With 5 hours of crew placement at $60 per hour, the delivered and spread estimate rises to about $567.
A 1,500-square-foot lawn topdressed at ¼ inch uses about 1.2 cubic yards. A supplier may charge $50 for material but apply a $90 delivery minimum, bringing the material-and-delivery total to about $140. Spreading can cost extra, especially if the work requires a broadcast method or extensive leveling rather than simply unloading a pile.
These examples exclude taxes and assume ordinary access and no soil removal. Actual quotes depend on supplier minimums, local rates, depth accuracy, and whether the contractor is responsible for spreading. For a formal landscaping estimate, confirm the measured area and depth so the soil quantity can be checked.
Small orders are often governed by delivery minimums, while larger jobs are more sensitive to labor, placement, and the accuracy of the volume estimate.
How much time does spreading triple mix add?
Unloading a bulk pile can take less than an hour when a truck has clear access and can place soil near the work area. Moving that same pile by wheelbarrow takes longer. One or two workers may need 2-6 hours to move and spread 1-3 cubic yards, depending on distance, slope, obstacles, and the desired finish.
Landscape labor commonly runs about $40-$90 per hour per worker or crew-hour, depending on how the contractor structures the rate and the local market. A compact loader or skid steer can reduce manual work on accessible sites, but equipment delivery and minimum rental time may add $100-$350. Equipment may be unsuitable for soft lawns, tight gates, or finished hardscaping.
Ask whether the estimate includes raking, leveling, and cleanup. “Delivery” usually means unloading the soil, not distributing it evenly across a garden or lawn. A contractor may also charge a minimum service visit, so combining soil spreading with bed preparation can be less expensive than booking separate visits.
Assumptions: Typical residential labor, no retaining-wall construction, and no significant excavation or disposal.
For labor estimates, specify whether the soil needs to be dropped, moved, spread, or graded. Those tasks have different time and equipment requirements.
Which order choices can lower the triple mix bill?
Measure the bed before ordering and calculate volume using the intended depth. Ordering 1 yard too much can add $30-$60 in material and may trigger a larger delivery charge or create a disposal problem. For irregular areas, divide the space into rectangles, calculate each separately, and add the totals.
Choose a delivery drop point close to the work area, provided the truck can reach it without damaging paving, irrigation, or lawn. Clearing the access route and identifying overhead wires, gates, and soft ground beforehand can prevent delays or a second placement charge. If access is poor, compare the price of a smaller truck with hand-moving labor.
Ask suppliers to quote the same specifications: number of cubic yards, blend composition, screening, delivery address, and drop location. A phone quote for soil alone is not comparable to a written estimate that includes freight and placement. Check for order minimums, tax, and separate charges for a return trip or extra handling.
For a small bed, compare bagged soil with the complete bulk-delivery price rather than the bulk rate alone. For a larger area, bulk usually reduces the material cost per cubic foot. Avoid paying for premium screening or specialty ingredients unless the planting application calls for them, and do not substitute an unverified fill blend for planting soil simply because it is cheaper.
Timing can help when suppliers have open delivery capacity, but seasonal availability and prices differ by location. Ask about available delivery windows and whether a flexible date changes the freight charge. If the project also needs compost or mulch, one coordinated delivery may reduce trips, although the materials may require separate minimum quantities.
The most controllable savings usually come from accurate volume, a convenient drop location, and comparing complete delivered quotes.