Dirt removal and grading
Revised October 2026
Get rid of a pile, strip a lot, spread what you ordered, fix the grade.
The other half of dirt work is moving it. A pool dig leaves a hill of clay in the front yard. A new footing leaves spoil along the fence. A lot that slopes toward the house needs cutting and filling until it slopes away. Haul-off is priced by the truckload and by how hard the dirt is to reach. Grading is priced by the hour for the machine and operator, usually a skid steer or a small dozer. Clean dirt is cheap to get rid of because somebody else wants it as fill. Dirt mixed with roots, concrete and trash has to go to a landfill and costs more.
Kinds of dirt removal and grading
- Haul it away. You have a pile of dirt or spoil that needs to leave.
- Spread and grade. You have the dirt, or are ordering it, and need it spread and leveled.
- Both. Dig or strip, haul off the excess, grade what stays.
What it is for
- Hauling off the spoil from a pool, basement or footing dig
- Stripping and removing an old lawn or a bad layer of fill
- Spreading and leveling delivered dirt
- Regrading a yard so water runs away from the house
- Cutting a pad into a slope for a shed, pool or driveway
This is not junk removal. Dirt mixed with construction debris, concrete or trash is a different job and a different price; say what is in the pile.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to haul off dirt?
Around Birmingham, $150 to $500 per truckload including loading, depending on access and whether the dirt is clean. A pool dig is usually three to six loads.
Can I get rid of dirt for free?
Sometimes. Clean clay fill is wanted by people building pads, and a hauler who has a job nearby may take it cheap. It still costs money to load and haul. Dirt with roots or debris in it is never free.
What does grading cost?
A skid steer or small dozer with an operator usually runs $85 to $150 an hour in the Birmingham area, often with a half-day minimum. A typical back yard regrade is a half day to a day.
Do I need a permit to move dirt?
For a homeowner regrading a yard, usually no. The City of Birmingham, Hoover and some other cities require a land disturbance permit for larger earthwork, and anything over an acre needs a state stormwater permit. Your contractor will know the local rule.
Dirt removal and grading by city
Local prices, delivery notes and what the ground is like in each place.
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