Fill Dirt in Davis-Monthan, AZ

Delivery fees in the Davis-Monthan/Tucson area vary by supplier, distance, and tonnage. Many Hello Gravel orders qualify for free delivery, but small orders or long hauls commonly incur fees—typical residential deliveries range from $0 to about $150 depending on access and distance. We recommend checking the checkout price or requesting a local quote for the most accurate fee.

Local suppliers around Tucson and Pima County provide most fill-dirt for Davis-Monthan customers, and deliveries are typically handled by tri-axle dump trucks from local haulers. Most suppliers deliver within a 20–50 mile radius of the city, though availability and radius depend on the supplier; Hello Gravel connects you to nearby vendors and shows delivery options for your zip code.

Use a simple two-step method: 1) Calculate cubic yards: (Area in square feet * depth in inches / 12) / 27. 2) Convert to tons: multiply cubic yards by an approximate factor of 1.2 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard (we use ~1.3 tons/cy as a typical estimate for fill-dirt in the Tucson area). For example, 1,000 sq ft raised 3 inches is about 9.3 cubic yards, or roughly 12 tons.

Fill-dirt is fine for raising grades, backfilling, and creating structural fills, but it is not ideal as a finished surface in hot, arid climates because it can produce dust, shrink, and erode. In Davis-Monthan you should compact fill-dirt properly, add a surface cap (gravel or decomposed granite) for traffic areas, and consider dust-control measures to reduce problems from heat and wind. For finished driveways or pathways, crushed rock or decomposed granite are generally better choices.

For driveways and pads, choose well-graded fill with a mix of sand, fines, and small gravels that compacts well and provides a stable base under a finished surface. For general landscaping or berms, a looser, finer fill-dirt with more topsoil or fines can be acceptable but should still be compacted in lifts. Avoid high-organic topsoil as structural fill; always tell your supplier the intended use so they can recommend an appropriate blend.

Rates vary by job size and access, but spreading is commonly priced either by the cubic yard ($8–$25 per cubic yard) or by the hour ($40–$80 per hour), while compaction (plate tamper or roller) is often $0.50–$1.50 per square foot or billed by the hour for machinery. Get local bids because tight access, lot slope, and lift thickness all affect labor and equipment needs. Hello Gravel can help estimate volumes so you can request accurate contractor quotes.

Fill-dirt is inexpensive and good for bulk filling and grading, but it does not drain as well and creates more dust than crushed rock or decomposed granite (DG). Crushed rock and DG provide better surface stability, drainage, and dust control for driveways and high-traffic areas, so they are typically preferred as a finished surface in the Davis-Monthan desert climate. Consider using fill-dirt for raising grade and then capping with crushed rock or DG for the finished surface.

Fill-dirt used as structural fill can last for decades if properly placed in lifts and compacted, but exposed fill-dirt will settle, erode, and create dust over time in a hot, dry climate. Expect occasional regrading or top-ups after heavy rains or wind events, and plan on applying a surface cap or vegetation to reduce dust and erosion. Regular maintenance includes spot regrading, compaction of disturbed areas, and dust suppression when needed.

Permitting depends on the scope of work and local regulations; small grading or minor backfill rarely needs a permit, but significant grade changes, retaining walls, or structural pad work often require review by Pima County or the City of Tucson building and planning departments. Check local codes before ordering large volumes (especially if raising land by more than a few inches or changing drainage patterns). If you are unsure, contact your local building department or Hello Gravel's team for guidance before placing a big order.

Control measures include compacting the fill in lifts, capping exposed areas with gravel or decomposed granite, installing geotextile fabric on slopes, and using dust-binding agents or polymer stabilizers for high-traffic areas. For weed control, lay a weed barrier where appropriate and consider a thin layer of topsoil with drought-tolerant seed or hardscape on top. Proper slope grading and drainage swales will also minimize erosion in heavy rains.

Calculate cubic yards first: (Square feet x depth in inches / 12) / 27. Multiply cubic yards by an estimated weight per cubic yard for fill-dirt (commonly 1.2–1.4 tons/cubic yard) to get tons. Example: to raise 500 sq ft by 4 inches: (500 x 4 / 12) / 27 = 4.63 cubic yards, which is roughly 6–7 tons using 1.3 tons/cy.

Contractors often recommend geotextile fabric for unstable soils or slopes, mechanical compaction in 6- to 8-inch lifts, and a cap of crushed rock or DG for finished surfaces to reduce dust and improve drainage. Other common additions are drain rock for subdrains, soil stabilizers for dusty areas, and small amounts of clean sand or gravel mixed in to improve compaction. When ordering through Hello Gravel, note these preferences in Order Notes so suppliers can suggest appropriate mixes or add-ons.

As of today, we require 2 business days for delivery.

Use our material calculator here: https://hellograve3dev.wpengine.com/calculator/ to enter the length, width and depth measurements of your project. It will automatically calculate the cubic yards/tons needed. If you are unsure how much to order, contact our team for guidance.

Please type in your zip code on any product screen and it will let you know if we service your area. The chances are that we do!

The material will be delivered via dump truck. If your order is under 20 tons, then it will likely be just one dump truck load. If your order is more than 20 tons, it will be more than one dump truck load.

Absolutely! Try our aggregate quiz here: https://hellograve3dev.wpengine.com/aggregate-quiz/ Alternatively,you can call us, chat with us (box in the bottom right corner of the website), or email us!

We cannot get out of the truck and manually spread it. However, depending on the location, safety, and comfortability of the driver – we may be able to tailgate spread your material. This involves pulling the truck forward as material is being dumped to make it easier for you to distribute material after delivery.

The minimum order size is 3 tons.

Hassle Free! Our goal is to make the buying process for gravel and other aggregates as easy and seamless as possible. Enter your zip code on our site, select how much material you need (see below FAQ’s to determine order size), select the date and time frame you would like your material delivered at Checkout, and place your order with any major credit card. After the order is placed our in-house support team will contact you to confirm the details. We will send additional confirmations on the day before and the day of delivery. On delivery day, a dump truck will arrive to dump the materials at your specified location. We request that you have someone available to accept the delivery so that we can make sure to dump it in the correct location. That’s it!

No, because we are a national supplier, we utilize our existing network of suppliers across the country. Therefore, the materials will likely be delivered from a contracted trucking company.

We specialize in making the aggregate buying process as easy and seamless as possible by managing the process from end to end. We have a network of suppliers that we source the materials from where we have negotiated rates. However, we do charge a markup and because of this you may be able to find the materials cheaper on your own. But if you want a hassle free experience, then we are for you!

Please fill out the Quote Request form and we will work up a quote for you! https://hellograve3dev.wpengine.com/quote-form/

Although uncommon, due to regional sourcing, the type and color of our materials may vary somewhat from the images on our website, reflecting the unique geological offerings of your area. Please communicate any specifications you desire to our team so we can consider them during the sourcing process.

Please contact our customer service team promptly if you experience any delivery or product quality issues. We will work to resolve them satisfactorily.

We are headquartered in New Orleans, LA. However, we have a network of suppliers across the country from which we provide the materials.