Trenching / Underground project guide
Trenching / Underground contractors cost and hiring guide
Water, sewer, gas, electric, irrigation and drainage lines put in the ground to spec, with 811 locates, shoring and bedding handled right.
Key facts
Trenching / Underground numbers you can check
Rules and figures that come up in nearly every trenching / underground quote, with the public source for each one.
| Fact | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trench protective system | Trenches 5 feet or deeper require shoring, a trench box or sloped walls under OSHA 1926.652. | OSHA, Excavations (29 CFR 1926.652)As of September 2026 |
| Spoils setback | Excavated soil and equipment must be kept at least 2 feet from the trench edge. | OSHA, Specific Excavation Requirements (29 CFR 1926.651)As of September 2026 |
| Ladder access | A safe way out (ladder, stairway or ramp) must be within 25 feet of workers in any trench 4 feet or deeper. | OSHA, Specific Excavation Requirements (29 CFR 1926.651)As of September 2026 |
| 811 locates | 811 locates are free and required before any digging; notice periods run about 2 working days in most states. | Common Ground Alliance, 811 Before You DigAs of September 2026 |
Project guide
Hiring trenching / underground contractors
Trenching and underground utility contractors open the ground for pipe and conduit, bed and backfill it, and put the surface back. What looks like a straight line on a plan is governed by a few hard numbers: 811 locates before any digging, a minimum cover depth that varies by utility (commonly 18 to 24 inches for electric and gas service, and below the frost line for water), and OSHA's requirement that any trench five feet or deeper have a protective system such as a trench box, shoring or a sloped wall, with a competent person on site. Bedding material under the pipe, compaction of the backfill in lifts and tracer wire on non-metallic pipe are the details that separate a line that lasts fifty years from one that settles and cracks the driveway above it.
GradeLine lists 3,794 trenching / underground contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.
Listed businesses are based in , Boise, San Rafael, Napa, Houston, Jacksonville, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.
What trenching / underground work costs
Simple trenching in soft soil is often priced per linear foot, roughly $4 to $12 for shallow runs and $10 to $30 or more when depth, rock or shoring come into play. A residential water or sewer service replacement typically runs $3,000 to $12,000 depending on length, depth and how much pavement has to be cut. Directional boring under driveways and roads is priced separately, often $10 to $30 per foot.
Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.
Common projects
- Water, sewer and gas service lines from the main to the house, including tie-ins and taps
- Electrical, telecom and fiber conduit runs, plus direct-burial cable trenches
- French drains, storm laterals, culverts and irrigation mains
What affects a quote
- Trench length, depth and width, and whether the route crosses pavement, tree roots or other utilities
- Soil, rock and groundwater, which decide whether a trencher, an excavator or dewatering is needed, and whether shoring is required
- Bedding stone, compacted backfill, pipe material, and restoration of grass, gravel or concrete over the top
Trenching / Underground FAQ
What does trenching / underground work cost?
Simple trenching in soft soil is often priced per linear foot, roughly $4 to $12 for shallow runs and $10 to $30 or more when depth, rock or shoring come into play. A residential water or sewer service replacement typically runs $3,000 to $12,000 depending on length, depth and how much pavement has to be cut. Directional boring under driveways and roads is priced separately, often $10 to $30 per foot.
What should I share when requesting a trenching / underground estimate?
Send the route on a plot plan, the pipe or conduit size, the connection points at both ends, target depth if the utility has told you one, and how you want the surface restored.
What can change the cost of trenching / underground work?
The main cost items are trench length, depth and width, and whether the route crosses pavement, tree roots or other utilities; soil, rock and groundwater, which decide whether a trencher, an excavator or dewatering is needed, and whether shoring is required; bedding stone, compacted backfill, pipe material, and restoration of grass, gravel or concrete over the top. A site visit helps the crew see which ones apply.
Do trenching / underground projects need permits?
Utility work in the public right-of-way needs a road opening permit and often a bond. Sewer, water and gas connections require plumbing or utility permits with an open-trench inspection, and gas lines must be pressure tested before backfill. 811 is required by law in every state and locates are free.
Find trenching / underground contractors near you
Pick a state to see the trenching / underground contractors listed there. Most crews travel well beyond their home city, so confirm the service area before requesting a quote.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- 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
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Contractor directory
Browse trenching / underground contractors
3,794 contractors found
MODEL "A" EXCAVATING LLC
demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking
KBC Enterprises. LLC
excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing, septic systems, site prep
Taba Machinery
Boise, ID
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing
Greener Excavations and Construction
San Rafael, CA
demolition, excavation, retaining walls, trenching underground
Quality Incorporated Sitework & Underground
Napa, CA
demolition, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, septic systems, site prep
G.E LAND MAINTENANCE
demolition, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, trenching underground
H&K Siteworks
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing
12 years in business
Wray’s Excavation
Burkesville, KYClinton County
demolition, driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking
Superior Outdoor Services, LLC
Munising, MIAlger County
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, septic systems
Primary Contractors, Inc. - PCI
Elizabeth, ILCarroll County
concrete cutting removal, demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations
Perry Co Excavating, LLC
New Bloomfield, PAPerry County
excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking, pond water management, septic systems
Oly Mattera Construction
Bethel, CTWestern Connecticut County
concrete flatwork, demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations
65 years in business
Murray Excavating Inc. Backhoe Service, Excavating and General Engineering Contractor
Shingle Springs, CAEl Dorado County
demolition, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing, septic systems
35 years in business
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