Before You Order
Topsoil delivery isn't like ordering from Amazon. A bulk bag weighs nearly a tonne, and a loose load arrives on an 18-tonne lorry. A few minutes of preparation saves hours of problems.
Check Your Access
For bulk bags (HIAB delivery):
- The lorry needs to get within crane reach of where you want the bags placed — typically 3-4 metres from the lorry's resting position
- Check for overhead power lines, telephone wires, and tree branches along the delivery route and above the drop zone. The crane arm extends 5-6 metres upward
- The lorry is typically 2.5m wide and 9-12m long. Make sure it can physically reach your property
- If you live on a narrow residential street, check for parked cars that might block access
For loose loads (tipper delivery):
- The lorry needs enough space to tip without the raised body hitting overhead obstacles — at least 4-5 metres of headroom
- The tipping area needs to be firm and level. A tipper on a slope is dangerous
- Loose loads are dumped in a pile, not spread. You'll need to move the soil from where it's tipped to where you want it
For both:
- If there's no driveway access, can the lorry park on the road outside? Check for parking restrictions, bus lanes, and road width
- If your property has a shared access or dropped kerb, make sure the lorry won't block neighbours
Protect Your Surfaces
A single bulk bag weighs 800-1000kg — that's the weight of a small car concentrated on a 1m x 1m footprint. It will:
- Crack concrete paving slabs
- Leave indentations in tarmac drives (especially in warm weather)
- Sink into gravel
- Kill any grass underneath within 48 hours
Protective measures:
- Place bags on thick plywood sheets (18mm minimum) to spread the load
- If placing on a lawn you want to keep, use plywood and move the bags within 24 hours
- On block paving, the bags usually don't cause damage but can leave marks
Tell the Supplier About Access Issues
If there's anything unusual about your delivery location, tell the supplier when ordering:
- Narrow lanes or tight turns
- Weight-restricted roads or bridges
- Shared driveways
- No drop kerb (the lorry may need to cross the pavement)
- Steep approach
Some suppliers have smaller 3.5-tonne vehicles for restricted access. These carry fewer bags per trip but can reach places the big lorries can't.
On Delivery Day
Timing
Most suppliers deliver in time windows (morning or afternoon) rather than specific hours. Expect the window to be 4-6 hours wide. If you need to be present, block out the half-day.
Some suppliers will call 30 minutes before arrival. Ask about this when ordering.
What the Driver Will (and Won't) Do
The driver will:
- Place bulk bags where the crane can reach, within the agreed location
- Tip loose loads in the agreed area
- Ask you to sign a delivery note
The driver typically won't:
- Move bags to a back garden or around corners
- Spread or distribute loose loads
- Wait more than 10-15 minutes if access is blocked
- Place bags inside gated areas the lorry can't reach
Checking Your Delivery
Before the driver leaves:
- Count the bags. Make sure you've received what you ordered
- Check the quality visually. Good screened topsoil should be dark brown, crumbly, and free of large stones. If it looks wrong, photograph it and contact the supplier immediately
- Note any damage. Torn bags, spilled soil, or damage to your property should be documented before the driver leaves
- Sign the delivery note. Some drivers ask for a signature; others leave a note in the bag
Moving the Topsoil
From Driveway to Garden
The hardest part of most topsoil projects isn't spreading the soil — it's getting it from the delivery point to where you need it. One bulk bag (0.6m³) takes approximately 20-30 wheelbarrow loads to move, depending on your wheelbarrow size.
Tips for efficient moving:
- Use a heavy-duty builders' wheelbarrow, not a garden wheelbarrow
- Lay plywood sheets on lawns to create a wheelbarrow path that doesn't rut the grass
- Open the bag from the top and dig out with a spade — don't try to cut the bottom
- Pace yourself. Moving 4 bulk bags by wheelbarrow is a full day's physical work
If You Ordered a Loose Load
Loose loads are dumped in a heap. The pile will be larger than you expect — 6 cubic metres of topsoil makes a pile roughly 2m across and 1.5m high. Plan where it goes and make sure the lorry can tip in that spot.
The advantage of loose loads is there's no bag to wrestle with. The disadvantage is you need to move all of it quickly — a pile of soil on your drive blocks access and can stain the surface.
Common Problems and Solutions
The Lorry Can't Reach
If the lorry arrives and can't access your property, the driver will usually call the office. Options include:
- Placing bags on the pavement (check with your council — technically requires a licence)
- Placing bags in the road while you move them (risky and not recommended)
- Rescheduling with a smaller vehicle
Avoid this by checking access thoroughly before ordering.
The Topsoil Looks Wrong
If the delivered topsoil is clearly different from what you ordered — heavy clay instead of screened loam, full of stones, smells chemical — take photographs and contact the supplier immediately. BS3882 certified topsoil comes with a test certificate you can reference.
The Ground Is Too Wet
If it's been raining heavily and your delivery area is a mud bath, consider rescheduling. Driving a heavy lorry over saturated ground causes deep ruts and compaction. It's better to wait a few days than spend weeks repairing the damage.
You Ordered Too Much (or Too Little)
Too much is better than too little — spare topsoil can be spread thinly across borders or used to fill low spots in the lawn. If you're significantly short, order the additional quantity and try to get it from the same batch for consistency. Our quantity guide helps you get the calculation right first time.