Cost to Level a Yard in Seattle [2025 Data]

Yard leveling costs in Seattle average $2,310, and most residents pay somewhere between $1,262 and $3,498. Where in this range your total will fall depends mostly on the size of the area you need to level and how severe the slope is. Some homes in the hillier parts of Seattle can cost much more than the average.

Yard Leveling Cost Factors

Yard leveling costs in Seattle, Washington, can fall as low as $500 or reach as high as $6,500. Be sure to consider all of the following factors to get an accurate estimate for your project.

Size

Leveling a yard in Seattle costs between $1 and $2 per square foot, so you can get a rough estimate for your total by measuring the space you need to regrade. Smaller projects, like leveling a yard for a fence or walkway, will always cost less than leveling for a driveway or a patio.

Since much of Seattle has severe slopes and hills, it’s common for homeowners to want to regrade entire properties to make the space more usable. In that case, you may get a more accurate estimate if you base the price on acreage instead of square feet. The average property in Seattle is 0.153 acres, and leveling that size plot would cost between $6,600 and $13,100.

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 below to get a better idea of the pricing you can expect.

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.

Some parts of Seattle are relatively flat, while others have some elevation gain and steep hills. The severity of the slope you’re correcting is going to be a more significant factor in Seattle than it would be in many other cities with less topographical variation. This is a big reason why costs are above the national average.

Land Clearing

If your land isn’t clear, you’ll need to consider land clearing costs before you regrade your yard. This could add anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 or more, depending on what needs clearing. Small shrubs and debris may only add $100 to your costs, while removing trees could add thousands. Only 28% of Seattle is covered by tree canopy, though, so the likelihood is that you won’t need much in the way of tree removal.

Land Surveying

You may also need to consider the cost of a land survey before you can level your yard, which can add between $800 and $5,500 to your total.

Especially in the hillier areas of the city, it’s likely you’ll need to excavate. Much of Seattle is serviced by underground gas lines, many homes have buried electrical lines, and virtually all homes have underground water and sewer lines. 

Hitting any of these utility lines can be very dangerous and lead to major property damage, and a survey can identify where those lines run on your property. You may also need a survey to identify property boundaries if you’re leveling land for a fence.

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 whether you’re excavating or bringing in soil and how much is available to relocate from elsewhere in your yard.

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

Labor accounts for between 90% and 95% of your total yard leveling costs, or an average of between $2,000 and $2,200. Labor costs are higher in Seattle than in most other areas, largely because the cost of living is more than 40% higher than the national average.

While labor is expensive, it’s always a good idea to leave yard leveling to a landscaping professional in Seattle. A pro is less likely to make a mistake that can lead to ruptured utility lines, and they’ll be able to help maintain good drainage on your property using a minor grade that still gives you better use of your yard—an important factor, given that the city sees above-average rainfall each year.

The City of Seattle doesn’t require permits for yard leveling, so you won’t need to worry about permit fees. However, you may need to consider separate permit fees if you’re leveling your yard to add a driveway, concrete patio, deck, or fence, as these projects all require permits.

Does Leveling a Yard Increase Home Value?

Leveling your yard in Seattle may increase your home value, especially if you have a heavily sloped plot that’s unusable and you level it out for greater utility. You're unlikely to see a bump in property value for smaller projects, like smoothing out minor depressions in your lawn. If you’re leveling land to add a landscaping feature, like a paver patio or garden beds, those projects should also add to your property 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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