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Land Clearing project guide

Land Clearing contractors cost and hiring guide

Brush, trees, stumps and roots removed by mulcher, dozer or excavator, sized to the lot and what you plan to do with it.

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Key facts

Land Clearing numbers you can check

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

FactWhat it saysSource
Stormwater permit triggerLand clearing counts as construction disturbance: 1 acre or more needs NPDES stormwater permit coverage.EPA, Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (NPDES)As of September 2026
811 locatesCall 811 a few business days before any digging, including stump removal and trenching for fence lines.Common Ground Alliance, 811 Before You DigAs of September 2026
Operator wagesThe median construction equipment operator earned $58,320 per year in May 2024.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook HandbookAs of September 2026

Project guide

Hiring land clearing contractors

Land clearing removes trees, brush, stumps and roots so a parcel can be built on, farmed, fenced or simply seen. The method drives the price. A forestry mulcher grinds standing brush and small trees into chips in a single pass and leaves the ground surface intact; a dozer with a root rake pushes everything into piles for burning or hauling; an excavator with a thumb pulls stumps and stacks logs. Grubbing, which means pulling stumps and roots, is a separate step from clearing and is required anywhere a foundation, driveway or septic field will go. Selective clearing around trees you want to keep takes more hand work and more time than clearing a lot wall to wall.

GradeLine lists 6,437 land clearing contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.

Listed businesses are based in Homer, Willow Spring, Elgin, Springfield, Frankfort, Jamestown, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.

What land clearing work costs

Forestry mulching typically runs $150 to $250 per hour or $1,500 to $4,000 per acre for light to moderate brush. Full clearing and grubbing of a wooded acre commonly costs $3,000 to $8,000 and can exceed $10,000 for dense hardwood or steep ground. Individual stump grinding is usually $100 to $400 per stump depending on diameter.

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

Common projects

  • Brush, undergrowth and small-tree clearing by forestry mulcher for pasture, fence lines and views
  • Full lot clearing and grubbing for house sites, barns, driveways and septic fields
  • Right-of-way, trail and access lane clearing on rural and timber parcels

What affects a quote

  • Acreage, tree density and trunk diameter: a lot of 12-inch hardwoods costs far more than one with saplings
  • Slope, soft ground and how close a machine can get to the work
  • What happens to the debris: mulching in place, burning, chipping, hauling to a landfill or selling merchantable timber

Land Clearing FAQ

What does land clearing work cost?

Forestry mulching typically runs $150 to $250 per hour or $1,500 to $4,000 per acre for light to moderate brush. Full clearing and grubbing of a wooded acre commonly costs $3,000 to $8,000 and can exceed $10,000 for dense hardwood or steep ground. Individual stump grinding is usually $100 to $400 per stump depending on diameter.

What should I share when requesting a land clearing estimate?

Flag the boundaries and the keep trees with tape, share the survey if you have one, and tell the contractor what the land is for; a pasture and a house site call for different finish work.

What can change the cost of land clearing work?

The main cost items are acreage, tree density and trunk diameter: a lot of 12-inch hardwoods costs far more than one with saplings; slope, soft ground and how close a machine can get to the work; what happens to the debris: mulching in place, burning, chipping, hauling to a landfill or selling merchantable timber. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.

Do land clearing projects need permits?

Many cities and counties require a tree removal or land disturbance permit above a certain acreage or trunk size, and open burning needs a permit almost everywhere. Clearing near a creek, wetland or shoreline can trigger state or federal review, and some counties protect specific species such as live oaks.

Find land clearing contractors near you

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

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