Fill Dirt Wanted in Denver, CO

Connecting people who have dirt with people who need dirt.

Fill Dirt Wanted in Denver, CO

Excavators, grading contractors, developers, and haulers working across the Denver metro can post surplus fill dirt or request the material they need through a single marketplace, cutting disposal costs and shortening haul distances for everyone involved. Homeowners with a low spot, drainage issue, or yard grading project can also post a fill dirt wanted listing to connect with nearby sources. Browse the active listings, map, and volume stats shown below to see current supply and demand across the area.

Active fill dirt wanted posts 21
Largest current listing 150,000 yards
Common nearby areas Denver area

Posting a Fill Dirt Wanted Listing That Works

Contractors and developers get faster, better-matched responses when their listing includes the right details upfront. A vague request wastes time on both sides, so include the project address or general neighborhood, the volume needed in cubic yards, the material type you will accept, your timeline, and any site access constraints such as gate width, overhead clearance, or weight limits on the approach road.

Specifying whether you need clean fill or structural fill is one of the most important filters you can apply. Clean fill is uncontaminated soil used to raise grade in non-load-bearing areas. Structural or select fill is engineered, placed in compacted lifts, and used under foundations, pavements, and slabs, typically requiring compaction testing to a specified percentage of maximum dry density. Stating your requirement upfront eliminates unsuitable offers before they reach your inbox. Also note whether a spotter will be on site, what truck types can access the property, and whether you need the supplier to provide material documentation.

  • Project address or delivery zone (neighborhood or zip code)
  • Volume in bank cubic yards and compacted cubic yards if known
  • Material type: clean fill, structural fill, or topsoil
  • Accepted truck types and any access restrictions
  • Project start date and delivery window
  • Whether material certifications or geotechnical approval are required

Structural Fill Sourcing for Denver Sitework Projects

Commercial sitework and grading projects face a sourcing challenge that residential jobs do not: structural or select fill must meet compaction specifications, so not every surplus load from a nearby excavation qualifies. Finding a vetted local source through a marketplace saves time and reduces the cost of material testing on loads that ultimately fail to meet spec. When you post a fill dirt wanted listing for a structural application, state the required compaction percentage and whether you need the supplier to provide soil classification data or geotechnical approval before delivery.

Volume math matters before you post. Excavated soil swells when it is dug and shrinks when it is compacted, so bank cubic yards and truck cubic yards are not the same number. Typical loose swell for common fill runs roughly 20 to 30 percent, meaning a 100 bank cubic yard need translates to roughly 120 to 130 loose cubic yards on the truck. Converting your volume before posting prevents under-ordering and avoids disputes with haulers over load counts. Ask your project engineer or estimator to confirm the swell and shrink factors for the specific material type you are sourcing.

  • State required compaction percentage (for example, 95 percent of maximum dry density) in your listing
  • Convert bank cubic yards to loose truck cubic yards before posting volume needs
  • Note whether material certifications or lab reports are required prior to delivery
  • Confirm soil classification requirements with your geotechnical engineer before accepting any load

Hauling Logistics and Delivery in Denver Metro

Tandem and tri-axle dump trucks carry roughly 10 to 14 cubic yards per load. Larger end-dump or belly-dump combinations carry more per trip but require adequate site access, a sufficient turning radius, and a stable staging area. Urban infill lots, HOA-governed neighborhoods, and older Denver streets with weight restrictions can limit which truck configurations are practical, so listing these constraints in your fill dirt wanted posting prevents wasted dispatch trips and avoids damage claims.

Haul distance is the largest variable cost in moving fill material. Matching a surplus site to a demand site within a short radius cuts fuel, driver hours, and truck wear for the hauler, and it often makes a free or low-cost material transfer economically viable for both parties. When you post on DirtMatch, include your delivery location and preferred pickup radius so the marketplace can surface the closest available sources first, reducing round-trip distance and overall project cost.

  • Tandem dump: approximately 10 to 12 cubic yards per load
  • Tri-axle dump: approximately 12 to 14 cubic yards per load
  • End-dump or belly-dump: higher capacity but needs more site room
  • List street weight limits, overhead obstructions, and gate dimensions in your posting
  • Specify a preferred pickup radius to prioritize nearby surplus sources

Fill Dirt Costs and Free Dirt Options in Denver

Fill dirt in the Denver area ranges from free to a delivered price depending on haul distance, material quality, and how urgently the supplier needs to move the load. When an excavator or grading contractor has surplus clean fill and the receiving site is nearby, the material often moves at no cost to either party: the supplier avoids landfill tipping fees, and the receiver avoids a material purchase. That mutual benefit is the core of how a dirt marketplace creates value, and it works best when supply and demand are geographically close.

Homeowners should be realistic about volume when posting a fill dirt wanted listing. Small residential needs, such as a few cubic yards to level a garden bed or fill a low spot, are harder to match with commercial surplus loads that typically arrive in 10 to 14 cubic yard increments. Stating flexibility on quantity, for example noting that you will accept a partial load or a full truckload, increases your chances of a successful match. If your project requires only a small amount, consider coordinating with a neighbor who has a similar need so a single delivery serves both properties.

Front Range Soils and Fill Suitability in Denver

The Denver metro sits along the Front Range where expansive, bentonite-rich clay soils are common in many areas. Importing fill with similar high-plasticity clay characteristics can worsen settlement, heave, and drainage problems on residential lots rather than solving them. Buyers posting fill dirt wanted listings for grading, drainage correction, or yard leveling should specify that they prefer granular or low-plasticity fill, and suppliers should disclose the soil type and origin of their material so receivers can make an informed decision before accepting a load.

Geotechnical conditions vary considerably across the metro, from the foothills edge to floodplain corridors to urban infill lots with unknown fill history. Buyers on engineered projects, including foundation backfill, retaining wall construction, or any application where fill will carry a structural load, should confirm fill suitability with their project engineer before accepting any material. Fill type requirements and compaction testing standards on these projects are governed by project-specific geotechnical reports rather than a single universal rule, so no marketplace listing substitutes for that professional review.

  • Prefer granular or low-plasticity fill for drainage and grading applications
  • Ask suppliers to disclose soil classification and material origin
  • Avoid importing high-plasticity clay fill onto lots that already have expansive soil issues
  • Confirm fill suitability with a geotechnical engineer on any engineered or structural application

Frequently Asked Questions

Active fill dirt wanted listings in the Denver metro come from a mix of grading contractors, residential developers, homeowners leveling yards, and sitework crews backfilling utilities or foundations. The fastest way to connect is to post a listing on DirtMatch with your location, volume, and material preference, or to browse current supply listings from excavators and haulers who have surplus material ready to move. The marketplace surfaces nearby matches so both sides can reduce haul distance and cost.

Fill dirt in the Denver area can be free when a nearby excavator or contractor has surplus clean fill and needs to dispose of it quickly. In that scenario, the supplier avoids landfill tipping fees and the receiver avoids a material purchase cost, so both sides benefit from a short-haul match. When haul distances are longer or material quality is higher (such as screened topsoil or select structural fill), a delivered price is more typical. Posting a fill dirt wanted listing with your location and volume helps surface the closest free or low-cost sources first.

The number of truckloads depends on your volume in cubic yards and the truck type delivering the material. Tandem dump trucks carry roughly 10 to 12 cubic yards per load, and tri-axle dumps carry roughly 12 to 14 cubic yards. Keep in mind that excavated soil swells when it is loaded onto a truck, so the loose volume on the truck is typically 20 to 30 percent more than the bank cubic yards you calculated in the ground. Convert your volume before posting to avoid under-ordering or disputes over load counts.

Most fill dirt in the Denver metro is delivered by tandem or tri-axle dump trucks, which carry roughly 10 to 14 cubic yards per load and can access most residential streets and commercial sites. Larger end-dump or belly-dump combinations carry more per trip but require more site room, a sufficient turning radius, and a stable approach. Urban infill lots, HOA neighborhoods, and older streets with posted weight limits may restrict which truck types can be used, so include those constraints in your fill dirt wanted listing to avoid wasted dispatch trips.

Structural fill suppliers in the Denver metro include excavation and grading contractors who generate select material from cut operations, quarries supplying crushed aggregate base, and commercial earthwork firms with excess material from large site developments. Posting a fill dirt wanted listing on DirtMatch with your compaction specification, required volume in loose cubic yards, and any material certification requirements helps qualified local suppliers self-select before contacting you, saving time on both sides.

Structural fill is typically tested by a geotechnical or materials testing firm using compaction tests (most commonly the Proctor test) to establish maximum dry density, and then field density tests (nuclear gauge or sand cone) to verify that placed fill meets the specified compaction percentage, often 95 percent of maximum dry density or as specified in the project geotechnical report. Testing requirements are set by the project engineer and the geotechnical report for each specific site, not by a single universal standard. Buyers should confirm testing requirements with their engineer before accepting any structural fill delivery.

For most residential grading, drainage correction, and yard leveling projects in Denver, clean fill is the standard choice. Clean fill is soil free of organics, debris, and contaminants, used to raise grade in non-load-bearing areas. Because the Denver metro has widespread expansive clay soils, homeowners should request granular or low-plasticity fill rather than clay-heavy material, which can worsen drainage and cause heaving. For any application that will support a structure, slab, or pavement, structural fill with compaction testing is required instead of basic clean fill.

Clean, uncontaminated fill dirt from excavation projects can often be moved directly to a receiving site that needs fill, avoiding landfill disposal entirely. Posting a fill dirt available listing on DirtMatch connects your surplus load with nearby projects that need material, which is typically the lowest-cost and most efficient disposal path for clean soil. For contaminated or regulated soil, disposal must follow applicable environmental requirements; consult your project engineer or an environmental professional before moving that material. Always disclose soil type and origin to the receiving site so they can confirm suitability.

The Denver metro sits on Front Range geology where bentonite-rich, expansive clay soils are common in many areas. Bringing in fill with similar high-plasticity clay characteristics can worsen settlement, heave, and drainage problems rather than correcting them. For grading and drainage applications, request granular or low-plasticity fill and ask suppliers to disclose soil type and origin before delivery. On engineered projects, confirm fill suitability with your geotechnical engineer, since requirements are governed by project-specific geotechnical reports and vary across the metro depending on local conditions.

To post a fill dirt wanted listing, create a free account on DirtMatch and select the fill dirt wanted listing type. Include your project location or delivery zone, the volume you need in cubic yards (converting to loose cubic yards if you are ordering by truck), the material type you will accept (clean fill, structural fill, or topsoil), your timeline, and any site access constraints such as truck size limits or gate dimensions. The more detail you provide, the faster qualified local suppliers and haulers can respond with a match that fits your project.