Excavation Cost Per Cubic Yard (2026): Site Work, Footings, Trenching
By Fabio Freire, Founder & General Contractor at EZ-Estimates. Published 2026-05-01.
Excavation Cost Per Cubic Yard (2026): Site Work, Footings, Trenching
Excavation is priced three different ways depending on the job: by the cubic yard, by the hour, or by the linear foot. Pricing it wrong on a basement dig can mean a $5,000-15,000 swing in margin.
Here are the 2026 excavation rates that win bids and protect profit.
How Excavation Is Priced
Three primary pricing methods:
1. Per cubic yard (typical for site work, foundation excavation):
- Includes machine time, operator, hauling, and disposal
- $50-150 per cubic yard for typical residential
2. Per hour (typical for unknown scope, repair work, or small jobs):
- Includes machine + operator + fuel
- $150-300/hour for mid-size excavator (15,000 lb class)
- $100-200/hour for mini-excavator (5,000-10,000 lb)
- $80-150/hour for skid steer
3. Per linear foot (typical for trenching, drainage):
- Standard trench (24 inch deep, 12 inch wide): $5-15/LF
- Deep trench (48+ inch): $10-25/LF
- Trench with rock or hard soil: $15-40/LF
Use the right method for the right job. Per-cubic-yard works when scope is known. Per-hour works when conditions are uncertain. Per-LF works for trenching.
Excavation Equipment Costs (2026)
Mid-size excavator (15,000-20,000 lb, e.g. CAT 308):
- Owned/operated rate (with operator): $150-275/hour
- Daily rental (8 hour, no operator): $700-1,200
- Weekly rental: $2,800-4,500
- Operator separately: $50-90/hour
Mini-excavator (5,000-10,000 lb, e.g. Bobcat E50):
- Owned/operated rate: $100-180/hour
- Daily rental: $350-600
- Weekly rental: $1,200-2,000
Skid steer with bucket or tracks:
- Owned/operated: $80-150/hour
- Daily rental: $300-500
- With breaker attachment: +$50-100/hour
Backhoe (300-series):
- Owned/operated: $100-180/hour
- Daily rental: $400-700
Dump truck (10-yard or 12-yard):
- Owned/operated: $90-160/hour
- Per load (delivery + dump): $150-400 depending on distance to dump
- Disposal/dump fees: $25-75 per ton
Other equipment:
- Plate compactor (rental): $80-120/day
- Trench shoring boxes (rental): $150-400/day
- Survey/laser level: $40-80/day
Excavation Labor Costs
Excavation labor is mostly the equipment operator, but ground crew is needed for grading, layout, and backfill.
- Lead operator (skilled, multiple machines): $40-70/hour wage, $60-100 burdened
- Operator (single machine): $25-45/hour wage, $40-65 burdened
- Ground crew laborer: $18-25/hour wage, $25-35 burdened
- Foreman/supervisor: $35-55/hour wage, $50-75 burdened
Typical crew for a residential basement dig: 1 operator + 1 dump truck driver + 1 ground laborer + 1 supervisor (part-time across multiple jobs).
Common Excavation Job Pricing
Residential basement dig (8 ft deep, 1,000 sq ft footprint):
- Volume: ~300 cubic yards
- Cost: $20,000-50,000 (depending on soil, access, hauling distance)
Foundation footing dig only (typical 1,000 sq ft house, 24 inch deep):
- Volume: ~50-80 cubic yards
- Cost: $3,500-8,500
Site grading (rough, 5,000 sq ft):
- 50-100 cubic yards moved
- Cost: $3,000-7,500
Trench for utility line (4 ft deep, 100 LF):
- Cost: $1,000-3,500 depending on rock or asphalt cuts
Driveway prep (gravel, 500 sq ft):
- Excavate 6 inches (~10 yards): $800-2,000
Septic system excavation:
- Tank dig + leach field: $4,000-10,000
Site Conditions That Change Pricing
- Rock encountered: +$50-150/yd³ for rock breaking; can stop the job entirely if rebar/blasting needed
- Hard clay or frozen ground: +30-50% time, $20-50/yd³ extra
- High water table: dewatering pumps required, +$200-500/day
- Hauling distance to dump: trips of 30+ minutes each way add $100-300/load
- Disposal fees: $25-75/ton at typical landfill, more for contaminated soil
- Trees or roots in dig zone: removal cost separately, $200-1,000+ per tree
- Existing utilities (gas, water, sewer): locate service required, hand-dig zones, +$300-800
- Tight site (urban, no laydown area): smaller equipment, more trips, +30% labor
- Sloped lot: tracked machine required (vs wheeled), +20% rate
- Permit and inspection: $150-1,500 depending on jurisdiction
- Locate service (call before you dig, free in most US states): 48-72 hour delay
Markup and Margin
Standard markup on excavation: 20-35%. Margins are tighter than other trades because of equipment cost weight on the job.
Solo excavators with their own equipment run 25-30%. Companies that sub out the machine and operator run 30-40% on top of the sub cost.
Common Mistakes That Kill Margin
1. Quoting per cubic yard with unknown rock conditions. Rock turns a $5,000 dig into a $25,000 dig. If you suspect rock, quote time and materials with a "rock allowance" line item, not lump-sum per yard.
2. Forgetting hauling and dump fees. Excavating 100 yards is half the job. Hauling 100 yards (10 dump truck loads) is another $1,500-4,000 in trucking + $500-2,500 in dump fees.
3. Skipping the locate service step. Hitting a buried utility line costs $5,000-50,000+ in repair, fines, and downtime. Always call before you dig (free service in US, takes 2-3 days).
4. Underbidding compaction. Backfill compaction in 6-8 inch lifts with a plate compactor takes time. Skip it and the foundation settles. Always quote compaction as a line item.
5. Free upgrades to bigger equipment. Customer says "you can do it with the mini, right?" Mini takes 3x as long as a full-size machine on a basement dig. Quote based on the right machine for the job.
Sample Estimate: Residential Basement Dig (1,000 sq ft footprint, 8 ft deep)
| Item |
Qty |
Unit |
Unit Cost |
Total |
| Mid-size excavator + operator |
32 |
hours |
$200 |
$6,400 |
| Dump truck + driver (10 loads) |
10 |
trips |
$250 |
$2,500 |
| Disposal fees (300 yd³ x ~1.3 tons/yd³) |
390 |
tons |
$35 |
$13,650 |
| Ground laborer (grading, layout) |
24 |
hours |
$35 |
$840 |
| Locate service + setup |
1 |
trip |
$250 |
$250 |
| Plate compactor rental |
1 |
day |
$100 |
$100 |
| Backfill (after foundation) |
16 |
hours |
$200 |
$3,200 |
| Permit |
1 |
lot |
$400 |
$400 |
| Subtotal cost |
|
|
|
$27,340 |
| Markup (28%) |
|
|
|
$7,655 |
| Total bid |
|
|
|
$34,995 |
| Per cubic yard (300 yd³) |
|
|
|
$117 |
Calculator and Templates
Stop Quoting Excavation By Hand
EZ-Estimates voices a full excavation bid in 60 seconds with equipment time, hauling, dump fees, and contingencies for site conditions. Free 14-day trial.