
Preparing for a big excavation project in your yard? Find out excavator rental prices by type, project size, and more to budget for your project.
Dig up a qualified excavation pro who has the expertise that aligns with your project
Planning your excavation project ahead of time helps you communicate clearly with the excavation contractor and reduces unexpected costs when your pro arrives.
Expect to pay $120 to $150 per hour or $50 to $200 per cubic yard for excavation services, with total costs depending on your project type.
Checking your excavation contractor's license, insurance, and references helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures you hire someone with the right experience for your project.
Hiring a local excavation company provides peace of mind when handling heavy machinery and complex digging work, keeping your property safe throughout site preparation and trenching projects.
Excavating requires precise planning and can be hazardous, which is why hiring a reputable excavation pro is vital to your outdoor project. Licensing requirements vary by state and local ordinances, but some may require special certifications for specific types of excavation projects. Let’s dig into the types of services excavation pros offer and how to hire an excavation pro who has the necessary qualifications for the job.
The types of services offered can vary depending on the local excavation pro. However, here are the most common services these pros specialize in:
Pros will use heavy equipment for site preparation, which includes clearing land by removing trees, stumps, rocks, and debris. They will also level the land for new construction.
Pros will install various types of drainage systems, retaining walls, and silt fences if you have areas that need help preventing erosion.
Trenching excavation involves digging trenches for installing utilities such as electrical, sewer, water, and gas lines.
Pros will remove soil and rock to prepare for building new homes and backfilling to support the foundation.
If you want to add a water feature to your property, then hiring an excavation pro is the way to go. They can easily dig and shape land for pools and ponds safely.
The cost of hiring an excavation pro is between $120 to $150 per hour, or $50 to $200 per cubic yard. Your price will depend on factors such as the type of project and your location. However, contractors will typically charge by the hour or by the cubic yard. It’s best to discuss with the excavating professional how they charge so you can budget accordingly.

Trying to figure out which excavation pro to hire can be overwhelming. Follow these key tips to take the guesswork out of the process.
Having a plan for what you want accomplished ahead of time can help you communicate effectively with the pro and get the project done accurately. For example, knowing which areas of land need clearing for a new building, the location and size of the future pool, or whether parts of your yard need grading. This type of information can help the pro provide a correct estimate, helping eliminate unexpected expenses later.
You can avoid costly mistakes by asking the pro for their license information to verify it with state boards. It’s also essential to check that they have the required insurance coverage to do the job. Last but not least, you should always ask for a list of three references from recent projects to confirm that they provided quality work and that the customers are satisfied.
Whenever you hire someone for a home improvement job, you should interview several professionals to compare experience, compatibility, and cost. You want to hire the best pro who specializes in the type of excavation you need to prevent potential problems caused by a lack of experience. Getting multiple quotes will help you avoid overpaying and stay within your budget as much as possible.
Once you make a deal with a local excavation pro, you need to get your project details in writing and double-check that it matches the quote. The contract should include detailed information on the cost of materials and labor, the deposit amount, the payment installment schedule, and the final payment amount. Putting a concise contract in place will prevent misunderstandings and unexpected costs.
Asking the right questions will help you feel confident in your hiring decision. Ask your potential excavators the following questions:
Are you licensed and insured?
What type of excavation do you specialize in?
Do you use subcontractors?
Does the quote include labor, materials, and taxes?
When can you start the project?
How long will it take you to complete the job?
Do you obtain all the required permits for the project?
How do you handle unforeseen complications?
What type of warranty do you offer?
Who is the primary contact for this job?
Excavation work involves the use of heavy machinery, which can be dangerous and cause extensive damage if done improperly. A qualified excavation pro near you will prioritize safety procedures to reduce the risk of accidents and comply with all laws and regulations. By taking the time to research the company and ask key questions, you can avoid hiring someone who isn’t the right fit for the job.
Seeing your excavation project complete is exciting, and you’re probably ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy it. However, there are a few more steps to finish up. The first step is to check the quality of the work and compare it to the contract to ensure everything has been completed correctly. If you are satisfied with the work, submit the final payment and leave a positive online review for the pro. You can also volunteer to be a reference for them in the future.
If any issues arise within the warranty period, make sure to contact the pro immediately so they can identify and fix the problem.
Amazing job. Efficient and quick without compromising quality. Basement feels brand new. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
This company is my go to resource for all my post renovation clean ups. They get the place spotless! All we have to do after is stage the place and sell, sell, sell! They are super professional and have some amazing scent that is left in every property. I highly recommend!
Custom Paint Jobs LLC took our exterior from drab to fab! We couldnt be happier.
We had our houses windows and back door replace this summer by Window Depot USA of Central. He gave us grate advise and saved my family lots money. The team did a fantastic job with installation. If you need help, they sure get job done right!
Beginning with the estimate, Larry and Peyton were super helpful in getting my new condo's interior re-painted. Not only was the job well done, but also done in a super timely manner as promised.
Great job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
Did an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Very knowledgable, very respectful and did a great job. They take pride in their work and it shows. I would highly recommend Dad's Home Repair and Excavation.
They do good work, were quick to respond, and their prices were as reasonable as plumbing work can be. They were fairly good with the sewer cleaning, and I have no complaints with their work, but I had to go beyond what they could do and get some excavation work done.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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