

Demolition project guide
Demolition contractors cost and hiring guide
Whole-structure teardowns, selective interior demolition and slab removal, with the utility disconnects and asbestos survey done first.
Key facts
Demolition numbers you can check
Rules and figures that come up in nearly every demolition quote, with the public source for each one.
| Fact | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos notification | Facilities covered by the asbestos NESHAP need written notice to the regulator at least 10 working days before demolition begins. | EPA Asbestos NESHAP, 40 CFR 61.145As of September 2026 |
| Asbestos inspection | A thorough asbestos inspection is required before demolition of buildings the NESHAP covers (residential buildings with 4 or fewer units are excluded from the federal rule). | EPA, Overview of the Asbestos NESHAPAs of September 2026 |
| Engineering survey | OSHA requires an engineering survey of the structure before demolition starts; 1926.850(a) is the most-cited demolition standard. | OSHA, Demolition Standards (29 CFR Subpart T)As of September 2026 |
Project guide
Hiring demolition contractors
Demolition contractors take down houses, garages, commercial buildings and foundations, then sort and haul what is left. The teardown itself is the fast part; most of the schedule is the paperwork that has to happen first. Gas, electric and water are disconnected and capped at the main, an asbestos survey is completed by a licensed inspector and any friable material is abated before the excavator swings, and the demolition permit is posted. A residential house typically comes down in one to two days with a 30 to 40 ton excavator; hauling and backfilling the hole can take a few more. Selective demolition, such as removing a wing or gutting an interior for a remodel, is priced by labor hours because it is done with hand tools and small machines around what stays.
GradeLine lists 4,740 demolition contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.
Listed businesses are based in , Valparaiso, Portage, Medway, Portland, WA 98528, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.
What demolition work costs
Residential demolition typically runs $4 to $10 per square foot, so a 1,500 square foot house lands around $8,000 to $18,000 including haul-off, more with a basement. Detached garages and outbuildings commonly cost $2,000 to $8,000. Asbestos abatement, when needed, is billed separately and can range from a few hundred dollars for pipe wrap to five figures for siding or floor tile throughout.
Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.
Common projects
- Full residential teardowns including slab, foundation and basement removal
- Garage, barn, mobile home, pool and outbuilding demolition
- Selective and interior demolition for additions, remodels and structural repairs
What affects a quote
- Building size, framing type and whether a basement or thick slab has to come out
- Asbestos and lead survey results, abatement, and the cost of the utility disconnects
- Tonnage of debris, landfill tipping fees, recycling of concrete and metal, and the fill needed to close the hole
Demolition FAQ
What does demolition work cost?
Residential demolition typically runs $4 to $10 per square foot, so a 1,500 square foot house lands around $8,000 to $18,000 including haul-off, more with a basement. Detached garages and outbuildings commonly cost $2,000 to $8,000. Asbestos abatement, when needed, is billed separately and can range from a few hundred dollars for pipe wrap to five figures for siding or floor tile throughout.
What should I share when requesting a demolition estimate?
Gather any building records, drawings or prior inspection reports, mark septic tanks, wells, propane tanks and buried lines, and say up front what you want salvaged before the machine arrives.
What can change the cost of demolition work?
The main cost items are building size, framing type and whether a basement or thick slab has to come out; asbestos and lead survey results, abatement, and the cost of the utility disconnects; tonnage of debris, landfill tipping fees, recycling of concrete and metal, and the fill needed to close the hole. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.
Do demolition projects need permits?
Nearly every jurisdiction requires a demolition permit, and most will not issue it without proof of utility disconnects and an asbestos survey. Buildings in historic districts, those over a certain age, and commercial structures under EPA NESHAP rules carry extra notification periods, often ten working days.
Find demolition contractors near you
Pick a state to see the demolition contractors listed there. Most crews travel well beyond their home city, so confirm the service area before requesting a quote.
LiveOpening as listings fill in
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- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Contractor directory
Browse demolition contractors
4,740 contractors found


Yellow Iron Contracting
Valparaiso, FLOkaloosa County
demolition, erosion control, excavation, grading, land clearing, paving prep

RAE Earthworks
Portage, PABedford County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking
6 years in business

Ground Breaking Excavation
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing

Valley Excavating Specialists
demolition, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing
10 years in business



Reese’s Affordable Property Management
Swansea, SCCalhoun County
concrete flatwork, demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, land clearing

Left Coast Underground
demolition, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, septic systems
20 years in business

Fleury Dirt Works & services llc
West Warwick, RIKent County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, pond water management

RGJ Construction & Excavation LLC
demolition, excavation, grading, land clearing, site prep, trenching underground

Dunnett Excavating
Woodstock, ILKane County
concrete cutting removal, demolition, driveways, excavation, grading, land clearing
35 years in business

Southern Rock Land Development
Carriere, MSHancock County
demolition, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, pond water management


D.Benson Trucking & Excavating LLC
River Falls, WIPierce County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking


Montana Excavation & Demo LLC
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing

D5 Plus, LLC - Excavation & Demolition
Van Alstyne, TXGrayson County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking

Robb Construction Inc
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, hauling trucking, land clearing

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