State soils

Oklahoma Soil Surveys

77 survey areas
The short version

The most common soil here is Dennis, on about 2% of the land: a silt loam, smooth, like flour. Stephenville and Carnasaw come next.

About 77% of the land drains well, and 10% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 16% of it.

USDA rates 80% 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: 11% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 34% 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 ground underfoot

The soils you're most likely standing on

The biggest named soils in Oklahoma, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.

Dennis
2% of the area
Silt loam topsoil · somewhat poorly drained
Smooth, like flour. Fertile and holds water well.
Mollisols
Stephenville
2% of the area
Fine sand topsoil · well drained
Loose sand that holds almost no water.
Alfisols
Carnasaw
2% of the area
Loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Ultisols
Quinlan
2% of the area
Loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Inceptisols
Port
1% of the area
Silt loam topsoil · well drained
Smooth, like flour. Fertile and holds water well.
Mollisols
Clebit
1% of the area
Very gravelly very fine sandy loam topsoil · well drained
Gritty and crumbly. Drains fast and warms early in spring.
Inceptisols

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.

Oklahoma has 77 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 43% of surveyed soils. Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil account for another 25%.

In terms of drainage, 71% of Oklahoma 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.

Soil Types

Mollisols
43% of surveyed soils
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Alfisols
25% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Entisols
12% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Inceptisols
11% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Vertisols
4% of surveyed soils
High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.
Ultisols
3% of surveyed soils
Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.

Survey Areas

Adair County, OklahomaAlfalfa County, OklahomaAtoka County, OklahomaBeaver County, OklahomaBeckham County, OklahomaBlaine County, OklahomaBryan County, OklahomaCaddo County, OklahomaCanadian County, OklahomaCarter County, OklahomaCherokee County, OklahomaChoctaw County, OklahomaCimarron County, OklahomaCleveland County, OklahomaCoal County, OklahomaComanche County, OklahomaCotton County, OklahomaCraig County, OklahomaCreek County, OklahomaCuster County, OklahomaDelaware County, OklahomaDewey County, OklahomaEllis County, OklahomaGarfield County, OklahomaGarvin County, OklahomaGrady County, OklahomaGrant County, OklahomaGreer County, OklahomaHarmon County, OklahomaHarper County, OklahomaHaskell County, OklahomaHughes County, OklahomaJackson County, OklahomaJefferson County, OklahomaJohnston County, OklahomaKay County, OklahomaKingfisher County, OklahomaKiowa County, OklahomaLatimer County, OklahomaLe Flore County, OklahomaLincoln County, OklahomaLogan County, OklahomaLove County, OklahomaMajor County, OklahomaMarshall County, OklahomaMayes County, OklahomaMcClain County, OklahomaMcCurtain County, OklahomaMcIntosh County, OklahomaMurray County, OklahomaMuskogee County, OklahomaNoble County, OklahomaNowata County, OklahomaOkfuskee County, OklahomaOklahoma County, OklahomaOkmulgee County, OklahomaOsage County, OklahomaOttawa County, OklahomaPawnee County, OklahomaPayne County, OklahomaPittsburg County, OklahomaPontotoc County, OklahomaPottawatomie County, OklahomaPushmataha County, OklahomaRoger Mills County, OklahomaRogers County, OklahomaSeminole County, OklahomaSequoyah County, OklahomaStephens County, OklahomaTexas County, OklahomaTillman County, OklahomaTulsa County, OklahomaWagoner County, OklahomaWashington County, OklahomaWashita County, OklahomaWoods County, OklahomaWoodward County, Oklahoma

Look Up a Specific Address

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