Excavation costs $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard or $1,100 to $5,600 total on average. Excavator hourly rates are $100 to $300 per hour to dig a basement, foundation, or pool. Land excavation estimates depend on the dirt type, depth, terrain, obstructions, and amount of earth moved.
| Project | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Foundation pad for new home site | $1,500 – $10,000 |
| Dig a basement for new construction | $1,500 – $10,000 |
| Dig around existing house | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Dig an in-ground swimming pool | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Excavate a driveway, patio, or deck dirt pad | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Excavate a hillside or flatten slopes | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Grading for lawn installation | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Rock / ledge removal | $1,000 – $20,000+ |
| Trenching for sewer, septic, or drainage system | $500 – $1,200 |
| National Average Cost | $3,500 |
| Minimum Cost | $500 |
| Maximum Cost | $20,000 |
| Average Range | $1,100 to $5,600 |
Most excavation contractors charge by the cubic yard or the total project, though some charge by the hour for small projects. Charging by the square foot is rare but is sometimes done for small grading projects involving shallow depths. Many excavation contractors have minimum project fees of $500 to $800.
| Charge type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Cost per cubic yard | $2.50 – $15.00 |
| Cost per hour (operator & excavator) | $100 – $300 |
| Cost per hour (operator only) | $50 – $150 |
| Cost per day (excavator rental only) | $200 – $700 |
| Cost per square foot | $1 – $5 |
| Cost per acre | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Excavation costs $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard, depending on the soil type, depth, terrain, and number of obstructions. Sand or light soil costs the least to dig, while excavating rocky soil or a rock ledge that requires jackhammering costs $50 to $200+ per cubic yard.
| Soil type or condition | Cost per cubic yard* |
|---|---|
| Light soil | $2.50 – $6.00 |
| Average soil | $6.00 – $10.00 |
| Heavy/wet soil or loose rock | $10.00 – $15.00 |
| Jackhammered rock | $50 – $200+ |
To estimate your total excavation cost, enter the area’s length, width, and depth into a cubic yard calculator.
Excavator hourly rates are $100 to $300 per hour for operators with their own mini excavator, backhoe, or skid-steer loader. Hiring an operator without equipment costs $50 to $150 per hour. Most operators charge a minimum of one day or eight hours. Renting your own mini excavator costs $200 to $700 per day, depending on the size and features.
When excavating for new construction, consult with the contractor about how the dirt removed for the foundation can be used for backfilling or landscape grading.
Basement excavation costs $10,000 to $30,000 on average for new construction, depending on the size, depth, and terrain, and typically takes 2 to 4 days. Excavating may cost $30,000 to $50,000+ in areas that are hard to access or feature rocky soil.
| Basement height & difficulty | Average cost* |
|---|---|
| 8’ – 9’ (standard soil) | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 10’ – 12’ (standard soil) | $20,000 – $30,000 |
| 8’ – 12’ (difficult or rocky soil) | $30,000 – $50,000+ |
*Excavation and grading only. Does not include concrete slab floor or basement foundation walls.
Digging a new basement under an existing house with a crawl space costs $20,000 to $45,000+ for excavation alone, depending on the size and accessibility.
Digging around a foundation costs $5,000 to $15,000 or $100 to $250 per linear foot to create access for foundation repairs or basement waterproofing. Exposing the foundation or basement requires a skilled contractor to excavate carefully without damaging the existing structure.
Excavating a hillside costs $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the size, slope, and amount of dirt to move. Removing a steep hill requires heavy equipment. Grading companies with a mini excavator, backhoe, bobcat, or skid-steer loader charge $100 to $300 per hour and typically have a one-day minimum.
Swimming pool excavation costs $1,500 to $5,000 on average if the soil is soft and free of obstructions. Excavation costs can increase to $15,000 to $20,000 for a difficult-to-access area, challenging terrain with boulders or hardpan, or a rock ledge that requires jackhammering or blasting.
Excavating a driveway or patio costs $1,000 to $2,500 on average and typically includes grading and compacting the dirt. Costs increase for steeply sloped or difficult-to-access areas.
Yard excavation costs $500 to $5,000, depending on the project size and amount of grading or leveling needed. Small backyard excavation projects for landscaping cost $500 to $1,000, while excavating larger areas for drainage, pipe installation, or erosion control can cost up to $5,000.
Yard projects that may require excavation include:
Rock excavation costs $50 to $200 per cubic yard to remove large boulders if storing them somewhere else on-site or $220 to $250 per cubic yard if hauling them offsite. Excavation costs can jump to $15,000 to $20,000+ if the excavator hits rock when digging a foundation, basement, or pool.
Confirm your excavation contract outlines the potential extra costs if the excavator hits rock that requires jackhammering, blasting, or other heavy-duty equipment to remove.
