Sitework in Arkansas on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 8 cost regions and 75 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Memphis Metro (Arkansas side) runs highest at 0.89×; Fort Smith Metro lowest at 0.80×.
Arkansas multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.
Cost regions
8
Counties in the model
75
Richmond Metro baseline
1.00×
Rest of Arkansas
0.82×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Sacul, Guyton, Mountainburg
58 counties in this region. 30 of 58 rate high for water table. 30 of 58 rate high for dewatering. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 9 of the 58. Highest risk score: Cross County (6 of 10).
Counties: Arkansas County, Ashley County, Baxter County, Boone County, Bradley County, Calhoun County, Carroll County, Chicot County, Clark County, Clay County, Cleburne County, Cleveland County, Columbia County, Conway County, Cross County, Dallas County, Desha County, Drew County, Franklin County, Fulton County, Greene County, Hempstead County, Hot Spring County, Howard County, Independence County, Izard County, Jackson County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Lafayette County, Lawrence County, Lee County, Lincoln County, Logan County, Marion County, Mississippi County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Nevada County, Newton County, Ouachita County, Phillips County, Pike County, Polk County, Pope County, Prairie County, Randolph County, St. Francis County, Scott County, Searcy County, Sevier County, Sharp County, Stone County, Union County, Van Buren County, White County, Woodruff County, Yell County
Little Rock Metro
0.85×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Carnasaw, Mountainburg, Leadvale
6 counties in this region. 2 of 6 rate high for shallow rock. 2 of 6 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Faulkner County (5 of 10).
Counties: Faulkner County, Grant County, Lonoke County, Perry County, Pulaski County, Saline County
Fayetteville Metro
0.88×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Clarksville, Enders, Leesburg
3 counties in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 3. Highest risk score: Benton County (5 of 10).
Counties: Benton County, Madison County, Washington County
Fort Smith Metro
0.80×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Enders, Mountainburg, Nella
2 counties in this region. 1 of 2 rate high for shallow rock. 1 of 2 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Sebastian County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Crawford County, Sebastian County
Jonesboro Metro
0.80×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Loring, Dundee, Foley
2 counties in this region. 2 of 2 rate high for water table. 2 of 2 rate high for undercut. Highest risk score: Poinsett County (6 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Craighead County, Poinsett County
Hot Springs Metro
0.80×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Carnasaw, Bismarck, Clebit
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shallow rock. Highest risk score: Garland County (4 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Garland County
Texarkana Metro (Arkansas side)
0.80×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Billyhaw, Felker, Guyton
2 counties in this region. 2 of 2 rate high for shrink-swell clay. 2 of 2 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Little River County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Little River County, Miller County
Memphis Metro (Arkansas side)
0.89×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Sharkey, Alligator, Tunica
1 county in this region. 1 of 1 rate high for shrink-swell clay. 1 of 1 rate high for water table. Highest risk score: Crittenden County (6 of 10).
Counties: Crittenden County
FAQ
Arkansas Cost Questions
Which soil problems drive sitework cost in Arkansas?
From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: water table (38 of 75 counties rate high), dewatering (38 of 75 counties rate high), undercut (22 of 75 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.
Where do the Arkansas multipliers come from?
From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in Arkansas, so use them for planning, not a final bid.
How reliable are the Arkansas county ratings?
They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.
Soil Report
See what's under your Arkansas parcel
A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.