Land Grading Cost

How Much Does Land Grading Cost?

Scraper Attachment Rental: $50-$70 Per Day

Backhoe Rental: $100-$200 Per Day

Equipment with Operator: $200-$1,200+ Per Day

Land grading or leveling reshapes the ground's surface to a planned shape, level or slope. Typically done using heavy machinery, land grading is common in construction, landscaping or drainage correction projects. Grading is done to control surface runoff and soil erosion; to create a more suitable site for buildings, facilities, landscaping or other uses; and/or to route storm runoff and other excess moisture away from a house foundation or other structures. The Environmental Protection Agency provides a land grading overview[1] .

Typical costs:

Depending on the specific site and task, land grading can be done with a wide range of earthmoving equipment such as a skid steer loader (a small machine with lift arms that accept a variety of attachments), a bulldozer, a tractor with a scraper or planer attachment, or other machinery, from small to large. Costs vary depending on whether the land is being graded to grow grass, put in a pond or build a house.
Renting a scraper attachment for a small tractor or similar machinery for a straightforward project like leveling a gravel driveway can cost $50-$70 a day. Renting a small backhoe can cost $100-$200 for a half-day or day, depending on location and model.
Hiring an operator and a bulldozer, skid steer loader or similar equipment can cost $50-$150 or more an hour, depending on local rates and the type and size of equipment used. Many heavy equipment companies charge for travel and set-up time, and have a two- to eight-hour minimum ($200-$1,200); others offer package prices. For example, Dustin Curtis Bobcat Land Grading in Florida will grade a patio at a pool site for $200 or offers a $250 coupon for up to six consecutive hours by a Bobcat skid steer loader and operator; while Chuck's Backhoe Service[2] in Florida charges $54 an hour for a Bobcat skid steer with an operator and $71 an hour for a bulldozer with an operator, including two hours standard travel time and a four-hour minimum. KP Kauffman Company in Colorado and New Mexico charges $75-$80 an hour for a bulldozer or grader with an operator plus a 15% fuel surcharge. Addison Equipment Rental[3] in California charges $143-$181 an hour for a bulldozer, grader or finish scraper with a union operator.

Related articles: Backhoe, Land Clearing, House Foundation, Building a Custom Home

What should be included:

A company representative (or the backhoe operator if it's a one-person company) will typically visit the site and review the planning documents (a building plan, landscape plan or similar) before giving an estimate. The Metropolitan Council in Minnesota explains construction grading practices.
The land should be cleared of all vegetation and other obstacles before grading begins. See How Much Does Land Clearing Cost.
Topsoil is valuable, so usually the first step is to strip away and stockpile the layer of topsoil on the site. The grading process varies depending on site circumstances and the type of equipment used. Videos demonstrate using a box blade behind a tractor[4] , a grading scraper behind a small tractor[5] , a skid steer with a land plane[6] and hillside grading with a bulldozer[7]
For small residential landscaping projects, en.allexperts.com explains do-it-yourself grading[8] using a level, duct tape, shovels, a wheel barrow and a 2x4 board.

Additional costs:

Check with the local zoning and planning departments; a grading permit is typically required. Fees may be based on the amount of soil to be removed or a percentage of the cost of the grading project. This can be $25-$100 for extremely small projects, or $200-$1,000 or more depending on the size of the project and the local fee structure.

Discounts:

In some circumstances, land grading can be tax deductible according to Texas A&M University[9] . Check with an accountant, tax attorney or tax preparer to find out if a specific project is deductible.

Shopping for land grading:

Find a local rental company through the American Rental Association[10] .
To find a heavy equipment company that does land grading, ask for referrals from local contractors or at nearby hardware and home improvement stores. Ask for and check references. Verify that the company is properly insurance, bonded and licensed. Request a written contract or agreement that specifies the work to be done and the rates to be charged.

Post

Comments (5)

CostHelper News

7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013

7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013



	‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts

What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

Small Project for Aboveground Pool

Amount: $200.00

Posted by: Needed leveling for a pool in San Jose, CA.	Posted: May 6th, 2021 01:05AM
Type of Equipment: By Hand / Tools + Soil	Type of Excavation:

We asked our normal gardener who charges $40 a visit to level a small rectangle of our backyard (30'x15') for an aboveground pool.
We asked for an estimate, and at first they said $450, and we asked for what? We don't need sod. They came back and offered to do it for $200.
About 2 people finished the project in under 2 hours. The did it all by hand -- I didn't hear them using a tractor.
They cut the lawn very short, then (I assume) ground up all the grass using hoes and other hand-tools, then laid extra soil to even things out, then raked it flat.
The land was pretty nasty beforehand -- clumpy with weeds, w/mounds of tough, rock-like ground where a tree used to be.
When I set up my above-ground pool last year, I was afraid it'd tip because the ground was lump & uneven. It's about 85% better now. I'm satisfied with the work and price -- it seems "good enough" now, without my having to do backbreaking work that would've taken me an afternoon or more, plus I didn't have the tools.