State soil summary
Soil types in South Carolina
The most widespread soil series in South Carolina are Cecil, Pacolet, Lakeland. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 66% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.3 strongly acidic · most land 4.6–5.8
- Septic fields very limited
- 75% <1% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 14% of land, any frequency
South Carolina counties
14 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | Cecil | 91% | 5.3 | 53% |
| Charleston County | Bohicket | 21% | 4.7 | 98% |
| Richland County | Nanford | 74% | 5.5 | 71% |
| Horry County | Johnston | 38% | 5.0 | 99% |
| Spartanburg County | Cecil | 90% | 5.3 | 41% |
| Lexington County | Lakeland | 91% | 5.5 | 81% |
| York County | Cecil | 85% | 5.8 | 61% |
| Berkeley County | Eulonia | 35% | 5.3 | >99% |
| Anderson County | Cecil | 93% | 5.5 | 27% |
| Beaufort County | Bohicket | 17% | 5.3 | >99% |
| Aiken County | Troup | 89% | 5.3 | 64% |
| Dorchester County | Mouzon | 27% | 5.3 | 96% |
| Pickens County | Pacolet | 96% | 5.5 | 71% |
| Florence County | Coxville | 43% | 5.1 | 82% |
What this means
What South Carolina soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in South Carolina is strongly acidic: pH 5.3 (most land between 4.6 and 5.8). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 55% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (24% of the land).
66% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 53% of the land, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 35% of the land, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For septic systems
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 75% of the land in South Carolina very limited, 24% somewhat limited and <1% not limited.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Flooding is mapped on 14% of the land (3% occasional, 11% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Statewide mix
Share of all mapped land
Drainage
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 3.9% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 3.6% |
| Well drained | 45.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 13.4% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 9.5% |
| Poorly drained | 14.3% |
| Very poorly drained | 9.3% |
| Not rated | 0.8% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.4% |
| Somewhat limited | 24.3% |
| Very limited | 75.0% |
| Not rated | 0.3% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 62.3% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 34.1% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 2.4% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 1.1% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- South Carolina: 18,688,958 acres of mapped land in 46 counties, pooled (not an average of county figures).
- Method
- Shares are by mapped land area: each map unit’s acres in the county times each soil component’s percentage. Open water is excluded. Topsoil values use the first mineral horizon of each component. Full methodology.