Soil Drainage Classes

The USDA classifies every mapped soil into one of seven drainage classes, from best to worst:

Excessively drained — Water moves through very rapidly. Sandy, gravelly soils. May dry out too fast for gardens.

Somewhat excessively drained — Quick drainage. Nutrients leach fast. Good for drought-tolerant plants.

Well drained — The ideal. Water moves through readily. Good for building, septic, and gardening.

Moderately well drained — Mostly good but may be wet briefly during heavy rain.

Somewhat poorly drained — Wet for significant periods. May need drainage improvements.

Poorly drained — Wet most of the time. Significant building and septic challenges.

Very poorly drained — Free water at or near surface. Severe limitations for almost all uses.

Look up your address to see the specific soil conditions at your property, or browse the full glossary for more terms.