Trenches: 2-4 ft, foundations: 3-5 ft, pools: 3-8 ft
Excavation Estimate
Estimated Total Cost
$5,778 – $13,333
88.89 cubic yards of topsoil / loose fill
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Last updated: 2026-09-24
Quick Answer: How Much Does Excavation Cost?
Excavation costs $40-$250 per cubic yard depending on soil type. Multiply Length x Width x Depth (in feet) and divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by your soil type rate. Add $15-$50 per cubic yard for hauling if the dirt leaves the site.
Inputs you'll need
- Length, width, and depth of the excavation area (feet)
- Soil type (topsoil, clay, rocky, or sandy)
- Whether excavated material needs hauling off-site
Excavation Cost Per Cubic Yard by Soil Type
Soil conditions are the single biggest factor in excavation pricing. Loose topsoil digs fast with a standard bucket. Clay requires more horsepower and takes longer. Rocky ground roughly doubles the cost of topsoil, and more if a hydraulic breaker or blasting is needed.
| Soil Type | Cost Per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy soil | $40-$80 | Fast to dig, but trenches need shoring |
| Topsoil / loose fill | $50-$100 | Loose, easy digging; deeper digs usually hit subsoil or clay |
| Clay / compacted | $75-$150 | Heavy equipment, slower production |
| Rocky soil | $100-$250 | May need breakers or blasting |
Hauling adds $15-$50 per cubic yard for off-site disposal. If the excavated material can stay on-site for backfill or grading, you save that cost entirely.
Excavation Depth by Project Type
| Project | Typical Depth | Width / Area Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation footings | 3-5 ft (12-24 in in warm climates) | Below local frost depth; check your local code. Add 2-3 ft each side for formwork |
| Full basement | 8-10 ft | Full house footprint + working room |
| Pool excavation | 3-8 ft | Pool shape + 1-2 ft per side |
| Utility trench | 2-4 ft | 1-2 ft wide for pipe or conduit |
| French drain | 18-24 in | 12-18 in wide |
| Site grading | 6-18 in | Full lot or building pad area |
Worked Examples: Real Excavation Projects
Example A (foundation dig): 40 x 30 ft footprint, 4 ft deep, topsoil (excludes the 2-3 ft of working room per side mentioned above; add that to your real dig)
- Volume = 40 x 30 x 4 = 4,800 cu ft
- Cubic yards = 4,800 / 27 = 177.8 cy
- Excavation at $50-$100/cy = $8,889-$17,778
- Hauling at $15-$50/cy = $2,667-$8,889
- Total estimate = $11,556-$26,667
Example B (utility trench): 60 ft long x 2 ft wide, 3 ft deep, clay soil
- Volume = 60 x 2 x 3 = 360 cu ft
- Cubic yards = 360 / 27 = 13.3 cy
- Excavation at $75-$150/cy = $1,000-$2,000
- Hauling at $15-$50/cy = $200-$667
- Total estimate = $1,200-$2,667
Example C (pool dig): 30 x 15 ft, 6 ft deep, sandy soil
- Volume = 30 x 15 x 6 = 2,700 cu ft
- Cubic yards = 2,700 / 27 = 100 cy
- Excavation at $40-$80/cy = $4,000-$8,000
- Hauling at $15-$50/cy = $1,500-$5,000
- Total estimate = $5,500-$13,000
Building on a gravel base after excavation? Use the gravel calculator to estimate backfill material. For concrete foundations and footings, the concrete calculator handles yards and bag counts. Need a rough number for the whole build? Our construction cost estimator gives a per-square-foot range by project type and quality level.
Pro Tips From the Field
- Always call 811 first. Utility locates are free through 811 (811beforeyoudig.com). Contact 811 a few business days before digging; your state sets the exact rules and notice period. Hitting an unmarked line is dangerous and can shut down your project.
- Get a soil report for big digs. A geotechnical report tells you what is underground before the excavator shows up. Surprises mid-dig are expensive.
- Add working room. For foundations, add 2-3 ft on each side of the footing for forms, waterproofing, and drain tile. You will need the space.
- Stockpile topsoil separately. Strip and pile topsoil before digging subsoil. You can reuse it for final grading and landscaping instead of buying new material.
- Check access before pricing. Check the narrowest gate or gap against the track width of the machine you plan to use. Tight access may require a mini excavator at a different rate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting swell factor. Excavated soil swells once it is dug out. Sand swells least, and clay and rock swell more. Ask your hauler or geotech for the swell factor for your soil and size trucks on loose yards, not in-ground (bank) yards.
- Digging too close to property lines. Most jurisdictions require setbacks from property lines. Check your survey and local codes before the excavator starts.
- Skipping OSHA trench safety. Under OSHA 1926.652, any excavation 5 ft or deeper needs a protective system (sloping, shoring, or a trench box) unless it is entirely in stable rock. Shallower trenches need one too if a competent person sees signs of a possible cave-in.
- Not planning for water. Excavations below the water table will flood. Dewatering (pumping) adds equipment and labor cost and may require permits. Price it separately.
Sources
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.652, requirements for protective systems in excavations
- 811beforeyoudig.com, the national call-before-you-dig service
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024), regional wage data behind the calculator's location adjustment
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Excavation Costs & Planning Guide
Excavation costs by soil type, project depth recommendations, and equipment guidance for residential site work.
How Much Does Excavation Cost in 2026?
Excavation costs $40-$250 per cubic yard depending on soil type, depth, and site access.
- Topsoil/loose fill: $50-$100/cy (easiest to dig)
- Clay/compacted soil: $75-$150/cy (requires heavier equipment)
- Sandy soil: $40-$80/cy (easy digging but may cave in)
- Rocky soil: $100-$250/cy (may need rock breakers or blasting)
- Hauling and disposal: $15-$50/cy additional
Total project cost depends heavily on volume and soil type; see the worked examples above for how a foundation dig, a trench, and a pool dig compare.
Key Takeaways
- Topsoil: $50-$100/cy
- Clay: $75-$150/cy
- Rocky soil: $100-$250/cy
- Hauling adds $15-$50/cy
Common Excavation Project Types
Different projects require different excavation depths and approaches.
- Foundation footings: below your local frost depth (often 3-5 ft in northern climates, 12-24 in in warmer regions); check your local code
- Basement dig-out: 8-10 ft deep, full footprint plus 2-3 ft working room on each side
- Pool excavation: 3-8 ft deep depending on pool design, add 1-2 ft on each side
- Utility trenches: 2-4 ft deep, 1-2 ft wide for water, sewer, and electrical lines
- Site grading: Typically 6-18 inches of cut/fill to establish proper drainage slopes
- French drain: 18-24 inches deep, 12-18 inches wide
Always call 811 a few business days before any excavation (your state sets the exact notice period) to get underground utilities marked.
Key Takeaways
- Foundations: below local frost depth
- Basements: 8-10 ft deep
- Pools: 3-8 ft deep
- Call 811 before digging
How Soil Type Affects Excavation Cost
Soil type is the biggest factor in excavation pricing because it determines what equipment is needed and how fast the work goes.
- Sandy soil: Digs fast but collapses easily. Trenches need shoring or sloping for safety. Cheapest to excavate.
- Topsoil/loam: Easy to dig with a standard excavator.
- Clay soil: Heavy and sticky when wet, hard when dry. Takes longer to dig and wears out equipment faster.
- Rocky soil: May need a hydraulic breaker, rock saw, or blasting. Roughly 2-2.5x the cost of topsoil.
If you are not sure what soil type you have, a soil test or geotechnical report can tell you exactly what is below the surface.
Key Takeaways
- Sandy: cheapest but needs shoring
- Clay: about 50% more than topsoil
- Rocky: roughly 2-2.5x the cost of topsoil
- Soil test tells you what is below the surface
Equipment Used for Residential Excavation
The right machine depends on the job size and site access.
- Mini excavator (3-6 ton): Good for trenches and small foundation digs on tight sites. Check its track width against your narrowest gate or gap before you price the job.
- Standard excavator (10-20 ton): Foundation and pool digs, site clearing.
- Backhoe: Versatile loader/digger combo. Good for trenches and moderate digs.
- Skid steer with bucket: Site grading, spreading, and loading.
- Dump truck: Hauls excavated material off-site at a $15-$50/cy hauling rate.
Most contractors include equipment costs in their per-cubic-yard rates. If you are renting equipment yourself, check current rates with a local rental company, since they vary by region and machine size.
Key Takeaways
- Equipment choice depends on job size and site access
- Dump truck hauling: $15-$50/cy
- Most contractors bundle equipment into per-cy rate
How to Use This Calculator
Select your soil type
Choose topsoil, clay, rocky, or sandy soil. Soil type determines equipment needs and directly affects the per-cubic-yard cost of excavation.
Enter the excavation dimensions
Input length, width, and depth in feet. For trenches, width is the trench width. For foundations, measure the full footprint plus 2-3 ft of working room on each side.
Choose whether to include hauling
Hauling adds $15-$50 per cubic yard for off-site disposal. Turn this off if the excavated material will be reused on-site for backfill or grading.
Review your excavation estimate
See total cubic yards, excavation cost, hauling cost, and the combined estimate. Adjust dimensions or soil type to compare scenarios for your project.
Excavation Calculation Formulas
Cubic Yards = (Length x Width x Depth) / 27
Excavation Cost = Cubic Yards x Cost per CY (varies by soil)
Hauling Cost = Cubic Yards x $15-$50/cy
Total = Excavation Cost + Hauling CostWhere:
- Length, Width, Depth
- = Excavation dimensions in feet
- Cost per CY
- = $40-$250 depending on soil type
- 27
- = Cubic feet per cubic yard (3 x 3 x 3)
- Hauling
- = $15-$50 per cubic yard for off-site disposal
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does excavation cost per cubic yard?
Excavation costs $40-$250 per cubic yard depending on soil type. Sandy or loose soil runs $40-$80/cy, topsoil $50-$100/cy, clay $75-$150/cy, and rocky soil $100-$250/cy. These rates include machine digging and loading. Hauling and disposal add another $15-$50 per cubic yard if material leaves the site.
How do I calculate cubic yards for excavation?
Multiply Length x Width x Depth (all in feet), then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. For example, a 30 x 20 ft area dug 4 ft deep: 30 x 20 x 4 = 2,400 cu ft / 27 = 88.9 cubic yards. For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and add the volumes together.
How deep do you dig for a house foundation?
Foundation depth depends on your region and frost line. Footings typically sit 3-5 ft deep in northern climates (below the frost line) and 12-24 inches in warmer regions. A full basement requires digging 8-10 ft deep. Always check local building codes and get a soil report before excavation. The excavation should extend 2-3 ft beyond the foundation walls on all sides for working room and formwork.
Should I call 811 before digging?
Yes, always. 811 is the free national call-before-you-dig service. Contact it a few business days before any digging and wait for utilities to respond; your state sets the exact notice period and rules. Utility operators come out and mark their buried lines at no charge: 811beforeyoudig.com.
What equipment is used for residential excavation?
Most residential excavation uses a mini excavator (3-6 ton) for trenches and tight spaces, or a standard excavator (10-20 ton) for foundation and pool digs. A backhoe works well for mid-size jobs. Dump trucks haul material off-site. Equipment costs are typically bundled into the contractor's per-cubic-yard rate, so you do not need to rent separately unless you are doing the work yourself.
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