Excavation Calculator
Calculate excavation costs for digging, hauling, grading, and soil disposal. Itemized by soil type and project size. Free, no signup required.
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For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Typical Excavation Costs by Soil Type
| Soil Type | $/Cubic Yard | Expansion Factor | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Soil (topsoil/loam) | $50 – $100 | 1.25× | Standard |
| Sandy Soil | $45 – $85 | 1.15× | Easy — digs fast, caves easy |
| Clay Soil | $65 – $130 | 1.35× | Moderate — heavy, sticky |
| Mixed Soil | $55 – $110 | 1.30× | Varies by composition |
| Rocky Soil | $100 – $220 | 1.50× | Hard — may need breaker |
Prices are per cubic yard in-place (bank measure). Expanded volume after digging is 15-50% greater depending on soil.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Soil pricing: Based on 2025 national averages for machine-dug residential/commercial excavation, including operator labor.
- Expansion factor: Soil expands 15-50% once removed from the ground. All haul-off costs use expanded (loose) volume, not bank volume.
- Haul-off: Not included by default in quick mode. Professional mode prices haul-off at $15-40/cu yd depending on distance. On-site spreading is $0 extra.
- Equipment rates: Mini excavator $85/hr, standard excavator $125/hr, backhoe $95/hr. Hand digging priced at manual labor rates (~0.5 cu yd/hour).
- Regional multiplier: ZIP-code-based adjustment using BLS regional wage data and published construction cost indices applied to both equipment and labor.
Last updated: February 2026
Pro Tips from a Construction PM
- Call 811 before you dig — always: A $0 utility locate beats a $15,000 gas line repair. Most states require 3 business days' notice, and hitting an unmarked line is the utility company's problem, not yours.
- Soil type changes everything: Sandy soil digs fast and cheap. Clay is heavy and sticks to buckets. Rock? That's 2-3× the cost and you might need a breaker attachment. Get a test hole before you commit to a fixed-price bid.
- Budget for haul-off separately: Most bids assume on-site spreading, not trucking to a dump. If your site can't absorb the spoils, you're looking at $15-40/cubic yard extra, and dirt expands 25-50% once it's out of the ground.
- Measure your access: If the excavator can't reach the dig site, you're paying for hand digging at 10× the cost. Check gate width and overhead clearance before the machine shows up.
- Dewatering kills budgets: If you hit the water table, a sump pump adds $200, but well points run $800+. Ask around about water table depth in your area before you start.
Related Calculators
- Concrete Calculator — Estimate concrete volume and cost for footings, slabs, or walls going into your excavation.
- Foundation Repair Calculator — Calculate foundation repair costs if excavation is for underpinning or drainage remediation.
- Gravel Calculator — Figure gravel quantities for backfill, base layers, or access roads on your excavation site.
Excavation Calculator by State
Get excavation cost estimates with state-specific regional pricing:
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