Considerations

• Soil is not sold by the meter in the U.S., so calculating a specific cost using that measurement is difficult. However, with the 30 percent difference in volume between the cubic yard and the cubic meter, the prices for a meter should be higher. For example, a yard of soil that cost $20 might cost $26 if sold by the meter.
  
  

2010 Prices

• Depending on the region of the country and the type of soil bought, the 2010 prices for a yard of soil range from $8 to $15 for screened soil, and up to $20 to $30 for topsoil. Bulk buying of many yards usually brings a discounted rate. Add delivery when buying in bulk. Five yards of topsoil may cost as much as $350 for delivery.
  
  

Soil Grades

• Fill soil -- used to build depressed areas or fill larger holes -- may have many rocks and other debris in it. Screened soil is similar in nature to fill soil, except the larger debris pieces have been removed. Topsoil itself is the soil scraped from the top 2 or 3 inches of an area, and is a mixture of soil and organic material.