Excavation
Dirt Removal Service in Oregon: Haul-Off Costs Explained
Cojo
April 18, 2026
10 min read
On almost every residential excavation project in Oregon, there is a moment where the homeowner looks at the growing spoils pile and asks, "Where does all this go?" The answer shapes the final price of the job more than any other factor. Dirt is heavy, slow to load, expensive to haul, and usually has to be paid to dispose of at the other end. Haul-off is its own small industry, and it rarely comes cheap.
For small backyard jobs, dirt removal is often the single biggest variable between a "fine" quote and a "why is this so much?" quote. Understanding how hauling works in Oregon — what a load costs, where the dirt goes, and when you can skip hauling entirely — helps homeowners plan better. For a broader look at how every residential excavation price comes together, see our guide to excavation cost factors in Oregon. A dedicated dirt hauling cost guide covers the trucking side in more depth.
This guide covers how Oregon backyard dirt removal is priced, what drives the cost up or down, and how to think about it when planning an excavation project.
Industry Baseline Range
| Scope | Unit | Industry Baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Haul-off per dump truck load (10 – 14 cu yd) | per load | $250 – $750+ |
| Larger end-dump or transfer load (16 – 22 cu yd) | per load | $400 – $1,100+ |
| Dump / disposal tipping fee | per load | $75 – $300+ |
| Loading time (excavator + operator) | hourly | $150 – $350+ |
| Loading time (skid steer + operator) | hourly | $125 – $275+ |
| Dirt removal by cubic yard (all-in) | per cu yd | $40 – $150+ |
| Clean dirt placement (if reused off-site) | per cu yd | $0 – $30+ |
| Mobilization | flat | $250 – $800+ |
| Minimum job callout | flat | $500 – $1,500+ |
The industry baseline ranges above represent ideal conditions — easy access, workable soil, shallow depth, and minimal haul-off. In practice, actual project costs frequently exceed published averages by 2 to 3 times when complications arise. Oregon's clay soils, rocky terrain, unmarked utilities, permit requirements, and disposal fees can all push costs well above baseline figures. The only reliable way to know your actual cost is through an on-site assessment.
Most homeowners dramatically underestimate how much material gets removed during excavation. Some rough benchmarks:
A standard dump truck carries roughly 10 – 14 cubic yards. A transfer truck or larger end-dump carries 16 – 22 cubic yards. That means even a modest backyard regrade can easily require multiple truckloads.
Soil type. Clay is heavy and dense. A cubic yard of wet Willamette Valley clay weighs significantly more than a cubic yard of sandy loam, which affects truck capacity and weight limits. Heavy clay means more trips per cubic yard.
Contamination. Dirt that contains bricks, concrete chunks, rebar, treated wood, or organic debris cannot go to a clean-fill site and has to go to a construction-debris facility with higher tipping fees.
Disposal location. Some Oregon metro areas have nearby clean-fill sites that charge little or nothing. Other areas require longer hauls to reach a facility that accepts the material. Distance equals fuel and driver time.
Access. A backyard that a dump truck can back into is much cheaper to haul than a backyard where the dirt has to be carried out in smaller loads by skid steer or wheelbarrow.
Season. Wet clay is heavier and dirtier than dry clay. Winter hauling in Oregon often costs more per cubic yard for the same reason.
Truck availability. Peak building season (June – September) tightens truck supply across the state. Hauling scheduled during slower windows sometimes costs less.
When undisturbed dirt is excavated, it expands in volume. A cubic yard in the ground can become 1.2 to 1.4 cubic yards of loose spoils. This matters when hauling is billed per load, because the final number of truckloads is based on the loose volume, not the in-place volume. Honest Oregon contractors factor swell into their haul-off estimates.
Haul-off is usually required when:
Haul-off can sometimes be avoided by:
Whether any of these work depends on what the soil looks like once it comes out of the ground and how much of it there is.
Willamette Valley clay. Clay is heavy, sticky, and often has to be hauled rather than reused. This is the single biggest reason dirt removal in the Portland – Salem – Eugene corridor is more expensive than in sandy parts of the state.
Central Oregon rock. Rock and cobble generated during east-side excavation often cannot go to a standard clean-fill site and has to be taken to a facility that accepts rock. Tipping fees are higher for mixed rock loads.
Coast range organic soil. High-organic soils near the coast can sometimes be reused for garden beds but are not suitable as structural fill.
Distance to disposal. Rural Oregon jobs often face long hauls to the nearest accepting facility. Some remote sites pay significantly more per load simply because of drive time.
811 compliance. Every excavation project in Oregon is required to call 811 for a utility locate before digging. It does not directly affect hauling but adds lead time to scheduling.
DIY is reasonable when:
Hire a pro when the volume is more than about 3 cubic yards, when the soil is heavy clay, when the site does not allow a trailer near the work, or when the material has any contamination. Attempting to haul a saturated clay load in a half-ton pickup can damage the truck, the driveway, and the street. For one-day jobs that might still fit inside a single crew mobilization, see our small-yard excavation guide. Our guide to hiring a residential excavation contractor covers what to verify.
Most dirt removal projects do not require a permit on their own. Permits are more likely when:
Permit costs for residential excavation typically fall in the $100 – $600+ range when they apply.
Dirt removal is one of those project variables that really benefits from an honest walk-through. An experienced Oregon excavation contractor can look at your site, estimate the swell factor, identify whether any of the material is reusable, and build an accurate haul-off plan before the first bucket cuts. Homeowners in Washington County can also review our backyard excavation in Tigard page for city-specific notes.
Get a free excavation estimate, see examples on our project portfolio, or review our excavation services. Related guides live in resources.
How much does a dump truck load of dirt cost to remove in Oregon? Industry baseline ranges run $250 – $750+ per standard 10 – 14 cubic yard dump truck load, with larger transfer loads running $400 – $1,100+. That generally includes trucking and disposal, but tipping fees for contaminated soil can add $75 – $300+ per load on top.
How much dirt does a typical backyard project produce? A small patio excavation produces 2 – 5 cubic yards. A medium backyard regrade produces 10 – 30 cubic yards. A full backyard cut-and-fill or driveway project can produce 30 – 100 cubic yards. Dirt swells 25 – 40 percent once excavated, so the loose volume is always larger than the in-place volume.
Can I reuse my dirt somewhere else on my property instead of hauling it off? Sometimes. Clean topsoil can be routed to raised beds, berms, or low spots in another part of the yard. Clay subsoil is harder to reuse because it does not compact cleanly and is not great for plants. Reuse only works if the volume and the destination match.
How long does dirt removal take? Loading time depends on the size of the pile and the machine. A small pile can be loaded into one truck in under an hour. A full day of excavation can generate multiple truckloads, with trucks cycling in and out throughout the day.
Do I need a permit to haul dirt off my property in Oregon? Usually no for small volumes. A permit is more likely when total soil movement exceeds local thresholds (often 50 cubic yards) or when the project affects sensitive lands, drainage onto neighbors, or storm sewer connections. Check with your city or county before starting a larger project.
What a French drain costs in Oregon for 2026: interior and exterior drains, yard drainage, and foundation waterproofing. See the breakdown and get a free quote.
Land clearing cost per acre in Oregon for residential, commercial, and farm sites. Pricing by terrain, brush density, and disposal. Get a free quote.
Compare drainage solutions for standing water in your yard, ranked by effectiveness and cost for Oregon's climate: French drains, regrading, dry wells, more.
Have a question about this topic? We'll respond within 24 hours.