Montana Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Cabbart, on about 2% of the land: a loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Kevin and Neldore come next.
About 88% of the land drains well, and 2% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 2% of it.
USDA rates 83% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 57% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 2% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 38% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Montana, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
Montana has 70 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter, making up roughly 47% of surveyed soils. Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols account for another 23%.
In terms of drainage, 91% of Montana soils are classified as well drained. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.