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 Jeromesville, Emmett, Rhinelander, Scottsboro, Redmond, Butler, 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
Granite Excavation, Inc
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, hauling trucking, paving prep
CTS EXCAVATIONS Licensed and Bonded Scottsboro Alabama
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, land clearing, paving prep
Relson Excavation Inc.
concrete cutting removal, demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations
Phillips Excavating LLC
excavation, foundations, land clearing, paving prep, pond water management, retaining walls
M&M Excavating and Landscape
Sparks, NVWashoe County
erosion control, excavation, grading, paving prep, retaining walls, septic systems
chuckEX
Divide, COTeller County
driveways, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, septic systems
B&S Excavation, LLC
Austin, CODelta County
excavation, foundations, hauling trucking, pond water management, septic systems, trenching underground
25 years in business
Guettler Brothers Construction LLC
Fort Pierce, FLSt. Lucie County
erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing, site prep
43 years in business
Orchard Earth & Pipe
Syracuse, NYOnondaga County
excavation, paving prep, site prep, trenching underground
Emperor Excavation
concrete cutting removal, demolition, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading
Get-R-Done Land Services
driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking, land clearing
New Creation Land Management
demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, grading, hauling trucking
King Asphalt Services LLC
Missoula, MT
driveways, excavation, grading, land clearing, site prep, trenching underground
Water Management Solutions LLC
Menno, SD
driveways, excavation, grading, paving prep, pond water management, septic systems
Falcon excavation
Coburg, OR
erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading, land clearing, site prep
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