Cost to Level a Yard in Denver [2025 Data]

Yard leveling costs in Denver average $2,070, and most projects in the area total between $1,047 and $3,373. Your cost will depend mostly on the size of the area you’re regrading and the intensity of the slope you need to fix. Denver has dense, clay soil, so excavation projects will cost more than those involving bringing new soil in.

Yard Leveling Cost Factors

Some homeowners in Denver, Colorado, pay as little as $600 for yard leveling services, while larger projects can cost as much as $6,000. There are a few important factors that will determine where your total falls within that range.

Size

On average, you’ll pay between $1 and $2 per square foot of yard you need to level. Most landscapers will charge by the square foot, so this is a good place to start to get an estimate for your project.

Larger projects that involve regrading your entire property can cost significantly more, and estimating your total based on acreage may be more helpful. The average property in Denver is 0.137 acres, and regrading an entire yard for the average property in the city would cost between $6,000 and $12,000.

Type of Project

The part of the outdoor space you’re regrading and why plays a big role in calculating the final cost to level your yard. Check out these common regrading projects to see where your total is likely to fall.

Severity of Slope

The slope of your existing lawn will help dictate the overall price tag for this project. If you have a very steep slope on one side of your yard that you need to level, that will cost you more than a slight slope. Contractors typically charge based on the elevation change; the more significant the change, the bigger the price tag.

Despite being just a few miles from the Rockies, Denver has mostly flat topography, so most homeowners won’t need to worry about the high costs of correcting steep slopes. This is one reason why the cost of yard leveling in Denver is below the national average.

Land Clearing

Leveling a yard may require clearing the land first, and land clearing costs can add to your total. You could pay anywhere between $100 and $1,000 or more, depending on what you need cleared. Small shrubs and light debris will fall closer to the lower end of that range, while removing larger bushes and trees can push beyond $1,000.

Only around 17% of Denver is covered by tree canopy, which is well below average even for metropolitan areas, so most residents won’t have to worry about heavy tree removal adding thousands to their totals.

Land Surveying

If your yard leveling project requires excavation or regrading near your property lines, you may also need to account for the cost of a land survey, which can add $800 to $5,500 to your total. A land survey can show you the location of underground utility lines. All homes in Denver have water and sewer lines buried, and most have underground gas lines for heat. Rupturing any of these can be extremely dangerous, so a survey may be necessary to avoid issues.

Fill and Topsoil

Fill dirt is a rocky material that’s ideal for packing in pockets during a regrade. It costs between $5 and $30 per cubic yard. How much you need depends on what’s available to relocate from elsewhere in your yard and the overall scope of your regrading project.

Topsoil goes down over the fill dirt. You’ll pay between $12 and $55 per cubic yard. Topsoil costs more than fill dirt because it’s full of nutrients to help nurture a lush landscape.

Yard Leveling Pro Costs

When you hire a professional landscaping company in Denver to handle your yard leveling project, you can expect between $1,800 and $2,000 to go toward labor, which accounts for 90% to 95% of your costs. Labor is more expensive in Denver than in most other cities for two main reasons.

First, labor costs scale with the cost of living, which is nearly 25% higher in Denver than the national average. Second, excavating the dense clay soil in Denver is highly labor-intensive, so excavation projects will cost more than in most other areas.

While it’s possible to regrade your yard yourself, it’s normally best to hire a pro. An expert can ensure your property is flat to maximize utility and has good drainage for the excessive snowmelt in the city. Professionals are also less likely to make mistakes when excavating around underground utility lines.

The City of Denver doesn’t require permits or charge permit fees for yard leveling. However, if you’re leveling to add a fence, patio, deck, or another landscaping feature, you should ask your regrading professional if you’ll need a permit for your bigger project.

Does Leveling a Yard Increase Home Value?

Leveling your yard will only add to your home value if you’re correcting a severe slope that makes your yard largely unusable. Excessive sloping is uncommon in Denver, as most of the city is flat, so you shouldn’t expect a bump in property value due to grading. However, if you’re leveling your yard for a landscaping feature, that could add to your curb appeal and home value.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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