State soils
Texas Soil Surveys
The short version
The most common soil here is Ector, on about 2% of the land: a very gravelly loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Pullman and Tarrant come next.
About 74% of the land drains well, and 6% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 8% of it.
USDA rates 78% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 54% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 8% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 25% 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 Texas, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Ector
2% of the area
Very gravelly loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Mollisols
Pullman
2% of the area
Clay loam topsoil · well drained
Firm and a little sticky. Holds water and nutrients well.
Mollisols
Tarrant
2% of the area
Very cobbly silty clay topsoil · well drained
Smooth and very sticky when wet. Slow to drain.
Mollisols
Amarillo
1% of the area
Fine sandy loam topsoil · well drained
Gritty and crumbly. Drains fast and warms early in spring.
Alfisols
Eckrant
1% of the area
Very cobbly clay topsoil · well drained
Sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Drains slowly.
Mollisols
Reagan
1% of the area
Loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Aridisols
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.
Texas has 232 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil, making up roughly 32% of surveyed soils. Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter account for another 27%.
In terms of drainage, 74% of Texas 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
Alfisols
32% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Mollisols
27% of surveyed soils
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Vertisols
11% of surveyed soils
High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.
Inceptisols
11% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Entisols
8% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Ultisols
4% of surveyed soils
Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.
Aridisols
3% of surveyed soils
Dry-climate soils with low organic matter. Often have caliche layers that make excavation difficult. Low shrink-swell is good for foundations.
Survey Areas
Anderson County, TexasAndrews County, TexasAngelina County, TexasArcher County, TexasArmstrong County, TexasAtascosa County, TexasAustin and Waller Counties, TexasBailey County, TexasBandera County, TexasBastrop County, TexasBaylor County, TexasBee County, TexasBell County, TexasBexar County, TexasBig Bend National Park, TexasBlanco and Burnet Counties, TexasBorden County, TexasBosque County, TexasBowie County, TexasBrazoria County, TexasBrazos County, TexasBrewster County, Texas (Main Part)Briscoe County, TexasBrooks County, TexasBrown and Mills Counties, TexasBurleson County, TexasCaldwell County, TexasCalhoun County, TexasCallahan County, TexasCameron County, TexasCamp, Franklin, Morris, and Titus Counties, TexasCarson County, TexasCastro County, TexasChambers County, TexasCherokee County, TexasChildress County, TexasClay County, TexasCochran County, TexasCoke County, TexasColeman County, TexasCollin County, TexasCollingsworth County, TexasColorado County, TexasComal and Hays Counties, TexasComanche County, TexasConcho County, TexasCooke County, TexasCoryell County, TexasCottle County, TexasCrockett County, TexasCrosby County, TexasCulberson County, Main Part, TexasDallam County, TexasDallas County, TexasDawson County, TexasDeWitt County, TexasDeaf Smith County, TexasDenton County, TexasDickens County, TexasDimmit and Zavala Counties, TexasDonley County, TexasDuval County, TexasEastland County, TexasEctor and Crane Counties, TexasEdwards and Real Counties, TexasEl Paso County, Texas (Main Part)Ellis County, TexasErath County, TexasFalls County, TexasFannin County, TexasFayette County, TexasFisher County, TexasFloyd County, TexasFoard County, TexasFort Bend County, TexasFreestone County, TexasFrio County, TexasGaines County, TexasGalveston County, TexasGarza County, TexasGillespie County, TexasGlasscock County, TexasGoliad County, TexasGonzales County, TexasGray County, TexasGrayson County, TexasGrimes County, TexasGuadalupe County, TexasGuadalupe Mountains National Park, TexasHale County, TexasHall County, TexasHamilton County, TexasHansford County, TexasHardeman County, TexasHardin County, TexasHarris County, TexasHarrison County, TexasHartley County, TexasHaskell County, TexasHemphill County, TexasHenderson County, TexasHidalgo County, TexasHill County, TexasHockley County, TexasHood and Somervell Counties, TexasHopkins and Rains Counties, TexasHouston County, TexasHoward County, TexasHudspeth County, Main Part, TexasHunt County, TexasHutchinson County, TexasIrion County, TexasJack County, TexasJackson County, TexasJasper and Newton Counties, TexasJeff Davis County, TexasJefferson and Orange Counties, TexasJim Hogg County, TexasJim Wells County, TexasJohnson County, TexasJones County, TexasKarnes County, TexasKaufman and Rockwall Counties, TexasKendall County, TexasKenedy and Kleberg Counties, TexasKent County, TexasKerr County, TexasKimble County, TexasKing County, TexasKinney County, TexasKnox County, TexasLa Salle County, TexasLamar and Delta Counties, TexasLamb County, TexasLampasas County, TexasLavaca County, TexasLee County, TexasLeon County, TexasLiberty County, TexasLimestone County, TexasLipscomb County, TexasLiveoak County, TexasLlano County, TexasLoving and Winkler Counties, TexasLubbock County, TexasLynn County, TexasMadison County, TexasMarion and Cass Counties, TexasMartin County, TexasMason County, TexasMatagorda County, TexasMaverick County, TexasMcCulloch County, TexasMcLennan County, TexasMcMullen County, TexasMedina County, TexasMenard County, TexasMidland County, TexasMilam County, TexasMitchell County, TexasMontague County, TexasMontgomery County, TexasMoore County, TexasMotley County, TexasNacogdoches County, TexasNavarro County, TexasNolan County, TexasNueces County, TexasOchiltree County, TexasOldham County, TexasPalo Pinto County, TexasPanola County, TexasParker County, TexasParmer County, TexasPecos County, TexasPolk and San Jacinto Counties, TexasPotter County, TexasPresidio County, TexasRandall County, TexasReagan and Upton Counties, TexasRed River County, TexasReeves County, TexasRefugio County, TexasRoberts County, TexasRobertson County, TexasRunnels County, TexasRusk County, TexasSan Augustine and Sabine Counties, TexasSan Patricio and Aransas Counties, TexasSan Saba County, TexasSchleicher County, TexasScurry County, TexasShackelford County, TexasShelby County, TexasSherman County, TexasSmith County, TexasStarr County, TexasStephens County, TexasSterling County, TexasStonewall County, TexasSutton County, TexasSwisher County, TexasTarrant County, TexasTaylor County, TexasTerrell County, TexasTerry County, TexasThrockmorton County, TexasTom Green County, TexasTravis County, TexasTrinity County, TexasTyler County, TexasUpshur and Gregg Counties, TexasUvalde County, TexasVal Verde County, TexasVan Zandt County, TexasVictoria County, TexasWalker County, TexasWard County, TexasWashington County, TexasWebb County, TexasWharton County, TexasWheeler County, TexasWichita County, TexasWilbarger County, TexasWillacy County, TexasWilliamson County, TexasWilson County, TexasWise County, TexasWood County, TexasYoakum County, TexasYoung County, TexasZapata County, Texas