Top-rated excavation pros.

Get matched with top excavation pros in Charleston, IL

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your excavation project in Charleston, IL?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Verified Reviews for Excavation pros in Charleston, IL

*The Angi rating for Excavation companies in Charleston, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Excavation companies in Charleston, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Excavation needs.

Last update on January 14, 2026

Find Excavation pros in Charleston

Avatar for Philpott Concrete and Excavating

Philpott Concrete and Excavating

4.63(
8
)
•Approved Pro

Philpott Concrete and Excavating

4.63(
8
)
•Approved Pro
Customers say: Quick response
11 years of experience
Free onsite estimate

We pride our company on reliability, great communication, integrity, and quality work. We are experts in our trade and will do our best to keep you as educated as we can on your particular task or project. We look forward to earning your business! Book with us online or feel free to give us a call today!

"He and his crew did a demo for me and they cleaned it all up and hauled it away, raked the dirt and promised to bring me more dirt soon so I can plant grass in this spot in my backyard. They repaired my fence and added privacy panels to it with a new privacy gate. They did a very professional job. I would recommend them to anyone wanting a professional job at a reasonable price."

Darlene C on February 2025

We pride our company on reliability, great communication, integrity, and quality work. We are experts in our trade and will do our best to keep you as educated as we can on your particular task or project. We look forward to earning your business! Book with us online or feel free to give us a call today!

"He and his crew did a demo for me and they cleaned it all up and hauled it away, raked the dirt and promised to bring me more dirt soon so I can plant grass in this spot in my backyard. They repaired my fence and added privacy panels to it with a new privacy gate. They did a very professional job. I would recommend them to anyone wanting a professional job at a reasonable price."

Darlene C on February 2025

Avatar for Jon Gross Building Arts

Jon Gross Building Arts

4.97(
35
)

Jon Gross Building Arts

4.97(
35
)
Customers say: True professional
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

Award winning degreed landscape designer with over 34 years industry experience specializing in custom landscape design, planning and consultation. Whether seeking help in just a design role or need construction planning and/or consultation, Jon Gross Building Arts will provide exceptional service at every phase of your landscaping project.

"Jon was AMAZING, and our backyard has been transformed from a dog-centric wasteland to a place for entertaining and relaxation. Jon is an artist who has great ideas about how to transform your space into something functional AND beautiful. He is a perfectionist with an eye for the small details. He is also extremely patient; our ideas and goals developed over the course of the project. He was flexible and always contributed great ideas and feedback based on his many years of experience. Working with Jon was the highlight of our summer-- not only because we have enjoyed our new outdoor space but also because we truly enjoyed spending time with him. I can't imagine there is anyone else in town that can match his quality of work and his eye for design. I would not hesitate to hire him again...and will be doing so next year when we tackle the front yard."

Shawna S on October 2022

Award winning degreed landscape designer with over 34 years industry experience specializing in custom landscape design, planning and consultation. Whether seeking help in just a design role or need construction planning and/or consultation, Jon Gross Building Arts will provide exceptional service at every phase of your landscaping project.

"Jon was AMAZING, and our backyard has been transformed from a dog-centric wasteland to a place for entertaining and relaxation. Jon is an artist who has great ideas about how to transform your space into something functional AND beautiful. He is a perfectionist with an eye for the small details. He is also extremely patient; our ideas and goals developed over the course of the project. He was flexible and always contributed great ideas and feedback based on his many years of experience. Working with Jon was the highlight of our summer-- not only because we have enjoyed our new outdoor space but also because we truly enjoyed spending time with him. I can't imagine there is anyone else in town that can match his quality of work and his eye for design. I would not hesitate to hire him again...and will be doing so next year when we tackle the front yard."

Shawna S on October 2022

Avatar for McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc

McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc

4.86(
51
)

McDonagh & Sons Plumbing & Sewer Inc

4.86(
51
)
Customers say: Quality work
Recommended by 96% of Angi customers
Recommended by 96% of HomeAdvisor customers

Mcdonagh & sons plumbing & sewer takes great pride with 15 years of experience! We are honest, reliable, genuine and trustworthy! We are constantly referred by our customers because of our great service and dedication to meet their needs! We offer free estimates! "anything plumbing, anything sewer, any time". Ertain areas are to subject a service fee *prices may vary. Discounts can not be combined, unless noted. Award winning. Additional dba - mcdonagh & sons plumbing and sewer.

Mcdonagh & sons plumbing & sewer takes great pride with 15 years of experience! We are honest, reliable, genuine and trustworthy! We are constantly referred by our customers because of our great service and dedication to meet their needs! We offer free estimates! "anything plumbing, anything sewer, any time". Ertain areas are to subject a service fee *prices may vary. Discounts can not be combined, unless noted. Award winning. Additional dba - mcdonagh & sons plumbing and sewer.

Mark Ranger Excavating Inc.

No reviews yet

Mark Ranger Excavating Inc.

No reviews yet
35 years of experience

Mark Ranger Excavating Inc. has provided quality excavating and other services for the residential, commercial and agricultural sectors since 1991. Give us a call today. We are licensed, bonded and insured.

Mark Ranger Excavating Inc. has provided quality excavating and other services for the residential, commercial and agricultural sectors since 1991. Give us a call today. We are licensed, bonded and insured.

Nick cowger Excavating

No reviews yet

Nick cowger Excavating

No reviews yet
41 years of experience

Hauling of top soil fill dirt rock sand ect clearing of land grade work and type of dirt work septic tanks snow removal on driveways and parking lots demolition of any size structures also

Hauling of top soil fill dirt rock sand ect clearing of land grade work and type of dirt work septic tanks snow removal on driveways and parking lots demolition of any size structures also

Showing 1-10 of 34
Excavating questions, answered by experts

If you’re planning to dig on your property, you’ll need to check for underground utility lines. Call the national call-before-you-dig 811 number. Once connected to an operator, you can schedule a site visit to mark underground lines. This way, you won’t accidentally dig into pipes and can cause major (read: costly) issues.

It all depends on the scope of the project. A trencher can certainly save time and energy, but you might not need to dig that deep in the first place. Aside from the depth of the trench, the quality of the soil matters. If it’s light, soft soil, you might try a shovel first. However, if the soil is rocky and hard or there are obstructions in it, like tree roots, a machine trencher might be the better option.

Most states do not require excavation companies to hold specific licenses, but many require at least a contractor’s license. Additionally, heavy equipment operators require a special commercial equipment license to operate machinery required for excavation. You can use Angi’s contractor licensing tool to confirm that an excavation company you’re considering hiring is fully licensed. You should also make sure that the excavation team is fully insured before allowing them to work on your property.

This depends on your location. Sewer lines can be buried anywhere from 18 inches to 8 feet deep. People in colder climates will have deeper sewer lines than people in warmer climates due to the dangers of the frost line and freezing pipes. Permits are required for all aspects of septic system installation, so the city should have the building plans for your system, which will tell you how deep your lines are.

You can dig 60 to 80 linear feet by hand per day depending on the depth. Digging a 100-foot trench by hand will take you two work days, but it can take longer if you have heavy or rocky soil. If you’re digging a deep trench or one that’s over 100 feet, consider renting a mechanical trencher, such as a walk-behind or ride-on, or calling a pro for help. 

The Charleston, IL homeowners’ guide to excavation services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

See all articles

What do you need done? We’ll find top pros.
  • 🌱 "Mow a small front yard"
  • 🛠 "Fix a leaking pipe under the sink"
  • 🏠 "Repair shingles on an asphalt roof"