You may know that your yard needs land grading. This includes clearing some land and having it leveled. You may be planning a project for your yard such as a large landscaping undertaking or putting up a new building such as a guest house or shed. You might even be just thinking about putting in a new deck, patio or swimming pool, all of which require the land to be level for installation.
Ground that is sloped can create water runoff, uneven retention of moisture, and soil erosion just to name a few potential issues, of which there are many. Before you get started, you will likely want to know how much land grading is going to cost you. There are several factors that go into calculating your land grading cost. Regardless, you want to make sure you use a professional for your land grading needs.
What is Land Grading?
Land grading is really just a fancy term for ‘leveling your yard.’ While the concept is simple and quite straightforward, having your yard graded can not only make for a more aesthetically pleasing look, but it can also provide a more substantial and stable base for other work such as landscaping projects, a patio or deck, or even a swimming pool.
If your land is unstable or uneven, it can lead to several other issues. Land grading can help prevent some major issues as well, including foundation damage.
Average Land Grading Cost
In general, there is a wide price range when it comes to the cost of land grading. The average cost is around $500 for very small jobs but that number can increase to thousands depending on the size and scope of the project. For many homeowners, the total cost ranges from $1,000 to $6,000. There are several different factors that will help you to determine the cost of your particular project.
What Impacts the Cost of Land Grading?
Not every land grading project will cost the same. There are variations when it comes to these projects and as such, there are different variables that impact the cost. In general, the larger the scope of your project and the more materials and people needed to complete it, the higher your cost.
Hauling Away and Disposal
If your project requires the removal of debris, dirt, or other materials, the cost may increase. However, this cost largely depends on the professional you have chosen to use. For example, some will not charge you to remove organic matter or dirt if they can repurpose it. For example, the professional may have other homeowners who want that extra dirt. However, a good rule of thumb is that if the professional needs to have a dump truck at your house, you are likely going to incur a higher cost.
Clearing Overgrowth
If the land that you need graded is significantly overgrown, you are going to pay more for it to be graded. This is because all other costs go up along with the equipment needed and the labor used. It is simply more work to grade an area that also needs a lot of clearing.
Other factors include the size of the area to be graded. Larger areas will cost more money, even if not significantly overgrown.
Drainage
If you need your land drained as well as leveled, you can expect a higher cost. Many professionals will go so far as to install a drainage system, which will also increase the price. There are often different options available when it comes to drainage systems, and they usually all come at different price points so you can try to stay on budget.
A drainage system is not a necessity for most land grading projects, but if you have concerns about water drainage, you might want to consider one.
Equipment
If your project requires the use of specialized equipment, particularly something the professional does not already own, you can expect to be charged more. This increase in price includes not just the equipment cost but also labor it requires to run that equipment. Often times that equipment requires a specially licensed operator.
If your project is small, you are not likely to need any special equipment but this can be a factor if your project is large-scale.
Materials
The more materials needed for your land grading project, the higher the land grading cost. For example, your cost will likely increase as the amount of soil your project requires increases. If you need a lot of fill dirt, the cost will be more than if you needed a smaller amount. This is likely to be the biggest material you need, but that depends on your project.
Materials your project may need also include plants, rocks, soil, and drainage system parts if you are having one installed.
Hourly Rate
The number of crew members needed for your project will have an impact on your price. The more people that need to be paid, the higher your cost. Most crew members are paid hourly so the size and difficulty of your project will also be a factor, as it will impact how many crew members are needed.
Getting Your Land Graded
If you are considering getting your land graded, you now have a better idea of what cost you can anticipate. Bear in mind the different factors that will impact your individual cost. You want to make sure you use a reputable landscaper for your land grading needs. A good landscaper will spend a good amount of time strategizing a plan for your particular project. In essence, you want a landscaper that will go through the appropriate steps and phases to get your land level and to prepare it for future work, if applicable. You do not want a landscaper who shows up to the project without having spent adequate time researching your particular needs first.
We encourage you to reach out to Dirt Connections for more information related to land grading. That includes any additional questions you have as it relates to land grading cost, as well as information on setting up your own land grading project.
