Grading work on an active jobsite

Grading project guide

Grading contractors cost and hiring guide

Rough and finish grading for building pads, yards and drainage, so water leaves the site instead of pooling against it.

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Key facts

Grading numbers you can check

Rules and figures that come up in nearly every grading quote, with the public source for each one.

FactWhat it saysSource
Drainage slope at the foundationThe IRC calls for the ground to fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet from the house, where the site allows.International Residential Code, Section R401.3As of September 2026
Stormwater permit triggerConstruction that disturbs 1 acre or more needs NPDES construction stormwater permit coverage and a written SWPPP.EPA, Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (NPDES)As of September 2026
Stabilization deadlineUnder the federal Construction General Permit, disturbed soil left idle for 14 or more days must be stabilized.EPA, Construction General Permit (CGP) Frequent QuestionsAs of September 2026
Operator wagesThe median construction equipment operator wage was $28.04 per hour in May 2024 (BLS OEWS).U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook HandbookAs of September 2026

Project guide

Hiring grading contractors

Grading is the shaping of ground to a designed elevation and slope. Rough grading moves the bulk of the earth to bring a site close to plan; finish grading dials in the last few inches so a pad is level and a yard sheds water. The number that matters is fall: building codes call for the ground to drop at least six inches in the first ten feet away from a foundation, and a lawn or gravel area needs roughly a two percent slope to drain. Crews do this with a dozer, a skid steer with a grading bar, or a motor grader on larger lots, checked against a laser or GPS grade stake rather than by eye.

GradeLine lists 6,860 grading contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.

Listed businesses are based in Indio, O'Fallon, Plover, Dubuque, Johnstown, Belle Plaine, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.

What grading work costs

Rough grading is typically quoted by the hour for the machine, $100 to $200 for a dozer or skid steer with operator, or by the acre at roughly $1,000 to $5,000 depending on how much earth moves. Regrading a residential yard to fix drainage usually falls between $1,000 and $6,000. Finish grading a pad or lawn area is often priced per square foot, in the $0.50 to $2.50 range.

Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.

Common projects

  • Building pads cut and filled to engineered elevation with compaction testing
  • Regrading yards that hold water or slope toward the house
  • Subgrade for driveways, gravel roads, sports fields and landscape beds

What affects a quote

  • Cut and fill balance: whether dirt can be moved on site or has to be hauled in or out
  • Compaction requirements, which decide whether a roller and density testing are on the job
  • Access, the number of grade stakes or survey control points, and topsoil to strip and replace

Grading FAQ

What does grading work cost?

Rough grading is typically quoted by the hour for the machine, $100 to $200 for a dozer or skid steer with operator, or by the acre at roughly $1,000 to $5,000 depending on how much earth moves. Regrading a residential yard to fix drainage usually falls between $1,000 and $6,000. Finish grading a pad or lawn area is often priced per square foot, in the $0.50 to $2.50 range.

What should I share when requesting a grading estimate?

A grading plan or a simple sketch showing where water should end up is the most useful thing you can send. Point out low spots, existing drains, septic fields, tree roots and anything the machine needs to steer around.

What can change the cost of grading work?

The main cost items are cut and fill balance: whether dirt can be moved on site or has to be hauled in or out; compaction requirements, which decide whether a roller and density testing are on the job; access, the number of grade stakes or survey control points, and topsoil to strip and replace. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.

Do grading projects need permits?

Many cities and counties require a grading permit once the job moves more than a set volume, often 50 cubic yards, or changes drainage toward a neighbor. Disturbing an acre or more triggers a stormwater permit and an erosion control plan in most states.

Find grading contractors near you

Pick a state to see the grading contractors listed there. Most crews travel well beyond their home city, so confirm the service area before requesting a quote.

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