Shell River Clearing and Grading LLC
Perham, MNBecker County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing
Excavation project guide
Excavation contractors cost and hiring guide
Foundation digs, utility trenches, pool holes and bulk earthmoving, priced by the yard or by the hour.
Key facts
Excavation numbers you can check
Rules and figures that come up in nearly every excavation quote, with the public source for each one.
| Fact | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trench protective system | Trenches 5 feet or deeper need a protective system (trench box, shoring or sloped walls) unless cut in stable rock. | OSHA, Excavations (29 CFR 1926.652)As of September 2026 |
| Ladder access | Any trench 4 feet or deeper needs a ladder, stairway or ramp within 25 feet of every worker. | OSHA, Specific Excavation Requirements (29 CFR 1926.651)As of September 2026 |
| Daily inspections | A competent person must inspect the trench before each shift and after every rainstorm. | OSHA, Specific Excavation Requirements (29 CFR 1926.651)As of September 2026 |
| Operator wages | The median construction equipment operator earned $58,320 per year in May 2024 ($28.04 per hour). | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook HandbookAs of September 2026 |
Project guide
Hiring excavation contractors
Excavation contractors dig and move earth for foundations, basements, utilities, pools and site cuts. Most residential jobs run on a mini or mid-size excavator paired with a skid steer and a dump truck; larger cuts bring in a dozer or scraper. The price depends less on the size of the hole than on what is in the ground: clay, ledge rock, high groundwater and buried utilities all slow the machine down and change the hauling math. Before the bucket touches dirt the site needs an 811 utility locate, and any trench deeper than five feet needs a protective system under OSHA rules.
GradeLine lists 45,570 excavation contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.
Listed businesses are based in Perham, Marion, Sellersburg, Oklahoma City, Barnstable, Memphis, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.
What excavation work costs
Bulk excavation is usually priced per cubic yard, roughly $2 to $8 for ordinary soil and $40 to $100 or more where rock has to be hammered or blasted. Hourly work with an operator typically runs $100 to $250 for a mid-size excavator, often with a half-day minimum. A basement dig for a typical house lands in the $3,000 to $15,000 range before hauling; a short utility trench can be a few hundred dollars.
Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.
Common projects
- Basement, crawl space and slab foundation digs to engineered depth
- Trenches for water, sewer, gas, electrical and storm drain lines
- Pool excavation, driveway cuts and bulk earthmoving for site grading
What affects a quote
- Soil type and rock: clay, caliche and ledge cost several times more per yard than loam
- Depth, cubic yards and whether a machine can reach the work without matting or a long carry
- Where the spoil goes: haul-off and dump fees versus stockpiling on site, plus any import fill
Excavation FAQ
What does excavation work cost?
Bulk excavation is usually priced per cubic yard, roughly $2 to $8 for ordinary soil and $40 to $100 or more where rock has to be hammered or blasted. Hourly work with an operator typically runs $100 to $250 for a mid-size excavator, often with a half-day minimum. A basement dig for a typical house lands in the $3,000 to $15,000 range before hauling; a short utility trench can be a few hundred dollars.
What should I share when requesting an excavation estimate?
Send the site plan or a sketch with dimensions, the target depth, gate and driveway width for equipment access, and anything you know about the soil, the water table or where old lines run.
What can change the cost of excavation work?
The main cost items are soil type and rock: clay, caliche and ledge cost several times more per yard than loam; depth, cubic yards and whether a machine can reach the work without matting or a long carry; where the spoil goes: haul-off and dump fees versus stockpiling on site, plus any import fill. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.
Do excavation projects need permits?
Call 811 at least two to three business days before digging; it is free and required in every state. Foundation and pool excavation typically falls under the building permit, and trenches in the public right-of-way need a separate road opening or encroachment permit.
Find excavation contractors near you
Pick a state to see the excavation contractors listed there. Most crews travel well beyond their home city, so confirm the service area before requesting a quote.
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Contractor directory
Browse excavation contractors
45,570 contractors found
Seamless Excavation & Grading
Marion, IALinn County
concrete cutting removal, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading
Scott's Land Clearing and Excavation
Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma County
demolition, excavation, land clearing, pond water management, site prep
10 years in business
S.H. Dunford LLC
Barnstable, MABarnstable County
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, retaining walls
Rock Solid Construction & Excavation
Memphis, TNShelby County
demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading
R & R Excavation and Transport
driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking
Precision Outdoors, LLC.
demolition, driveways, excavation, grading, land clearing, retaining walls
30 years in business
P.C. Earthworks
Howland, MEPenobscot County
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, land clearing, septic systems
Machado Enterprises L.L.C
Gilsum, NHCheshire County
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, land clearing, pond water management
Landco Development LLC
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, land clearing, site prep
Lamb-Coate Contracting
Bellefontaine, OHLogan County
demolition, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, septic systems
KPS Excavation
Meriden, KSJackson County
concrete cutting removal, demolition, driveways, excavation, grading, land clearing
JS Siteworks LLC
Meriden, CTSouth Central Connecticut County
excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing, site prep
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