How much does excavation cost on the Northshore?
HomeGuide’s national cost guide puts excavation at $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard. By its numbers, a typical project runs $1,100 to $5,600. Wet clay falls in its top soil band, $10.00 to $15.00 a cubic yard. On the Northshore, wet ground and the plan for the dirt can move the final number.
We do excavation work across the Northshore with excavators and a dozer, and we haul in our own dump trucks. The job prices below are national ranges published in HomeGuide’s cost guide. We quote our own work by the job after a site visit. HomeGuide also says a contractor has to see the site in person to price it accurately.
What does excavation cost per cubic yard?
Most excavation contractors charge by the cubic yard or by the total project, HomeGuide says. The type of soil sets where a dig falls in its national range.
| Soil type | HomeGuide national price per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Light soil | $2.50 to $6.00 |
| Average soil | $6.00 to $10.00 |
| Heavy or wet soil, or loose rock | $10.00 to $15.00 |
A USGS report describes Louisiana’s deep sediments as sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Wet clay belongs in the heavy or wet row.
To size a job, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. That gives you cubic yards. Say a small job calls for 20 cubic yards. At $2.50 to $15.00 a yard, the digging comes to $50 to $300.
HomeGuide says many contractors charge a project minimum of $500 to $800. On a job that small, the minimum sets the bill.
Should you hire by the hour or rent an excavator?
Some contractors charge by the hour for small projects, HomeGuide says. You can also rent a machine and run it yourself.
| How you pay | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| Operator with a mini excavator, backhoe or skid steer | $100 to $300 an hour |
| Operator only, without a machine | $50 to $150 an hour |
| Mini excavator rental, you run it | $200 to $700 a day |
Most operators charge a minimum of 1 day, or 8 hours. At $100 to $300 an hour, a full day comes to $800 to $2,400. HomeGuide says small projects take 1 to 3 days.
Per day, renting costs less than hiring a machine with an operator. The rental rate covers the machine only, so the digging is yours. An operator only rate assumes you supply the machine.
What do common excavation jobs cost?
HomeGuide also prices common jobs as a whole. These are its national ranges.
| Job | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| New home site excavation | $1,500 to $10,000 |
| Driveway or patio excavation | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Yard excavation | $500 to $5,000 |
| Trenching | $5 to $12 per linear foot |
The driveway or patio figure typically includes grading and compacting the dirt. We do that shaping as part of our grading and dirt work.
Trenching prices by the foot, so a 100 foot trench runs $500 to $1,200 at those rates. Drain work prices by the foot too. Our post on French drain costs on the Northshore covers that job.
For a home built on a slab, the dirt work includes the pad under it. We build that house pad and pour concrete slabs. For scale, HomeGuide puts a slab foundation pour at $12,000 to $28,000.
Why can digging cost more on Northshore ground?
NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals put Covington’s rainfall at 62.51 inches a year. USDA describes the Abita soils on St. Tammany Parish terraces as somewhat poorly drained. Water soaks through them slowly.
Their seasonal high water table sits 1 to 3 feet below the surface from December through April. A dig that goes deeper during those months can reach water. Wet, heavy soil prices in HomeGuide’s top row.
If your project can wait, ask about timing the dig outside December through April. On the site visit, we check how wet your ground is and how deep the work goes.
Where does the dirt go, and what does that cost?
HomeGuide says costs go up when dirt is trucked to or from the site instead of moved on site. Moving dirt from high spots to low spots on the same lot is called cut and fill. HomeGuide prices residential cut and fill at $1 to $15 per cubic yard.
Hauling dirt away is a different number. HomeGuide’s estimate for dirt removal is $140 to $230 per cubic yard, or $1,400 to $2,300 per dump truck load. By those figures, hauling a cubic yard away costs more than digging it.
Some sites need dirt brought in. HomeGuide puts the fill dirt itself at $5 to $25 per cubic yard. We sell fill dirt by the truckload and haul clay in and topsoil out in our own dump trucks. Our post on fill dirt vs topsoil vs sand covers which dirt goes where.
What do safety rules add to a dig?
Louisiana’s Damage Prevention Law requires excavators to call 811 at least 2 full business days before digging. Louisiana 811 says its service is free to anyone who disturbs the soil. Plan those 2 days into the schedule.
HomeGuide notes that digging around buried pipes or utility lines takes extra caution. That adds labor time and cost.
OSHA rules require a protective system for workers in an excavation, such as sloped walls, shoring or a trench box. A dig under 5 feet deep is the exception, if a competent person sees no sign it could cave in. That protection takes time and gear, so it shows up in the price of a deep trench.
Which St. Tammany Parish permits can a dig need?
HomeGuide’s national range for an excavation permit is $50 to $400. In unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, the parish’s own rules apply. Parish code bars clearing, filling or dredging land without the required permits and work orders.
A land clearing permit does not cover grading or fill, which need their own permits. The parish fee schedule lists the land clearing permit at $250. Work without a required permit draws a fine of double the permit fee on a first offense. On the land clearing permit, that comes to $500.
Net fill is banned in any critical drainage area, and FEMA flood hazard A zones are among those areas. Our post on house pad permits in St. Tammany Parish explains net fill and the other fill rules.
These rules cover unincorporated St. Tammany Parish. Inside a city such as Covington, Mandeville or Slidell, ask the city. Check your own lot with the parish or city office before any digging. We work through the permit paperwork with you, and a licensed surveyor or engineer prepares any survey or drainage plan.
FAQ
How much does excavation cost per cubic yard?
HomeGuide’s national range is $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard. Light soil runs $2.50 to $6.00, average soil $6.00 to $10.00, and heavy or wet soil $10.00 to $15.00. Wet clay sits in that top row, and many contractors set a $500 to $800 project minimum. We quote by the job after a site visit.
How much does it cost to hire an excavator for a day?
HomeGuide puts an operator with a mini excavator, backhoe or skid steer at $100 to $300 an hour. Most charge a 1 day minimum of 8 hours, so a full day runs $800 to $2,400 at those rates. Renting a mini excavator to run yourself costs $200 to $700 a day.
Is it cheaper to keep dirt on site than to haul it off?
Yes, by HomeGuide’s numbers. Its guide says costs go up when dirt is trucked to or from the site instead of moved on site. Residential cut and fill runs $1 to $15 per cubic yard. HomeGuide’s estimate for dirt removal is $140 to $230 per cubic yard, or $1,400 to $2,300 per dump truck load.
Do I need to call 811 before digging in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana’s Damage Prevention Law requires excavators to call 811 at least 2 full business days before digging. Louisiana 811 says its service is free to anyone who disturbs the soil, individuals or companies. If you rent a machine and dig yourself, make that call before you start.
Do I need a permit to dig or fill in St. Tammany Parish?
It depends on the work and the lot, so confirm yours with the parish. In unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, code bars clearing, filling or dredging land without the required permits and work orders. A land clearing permit does not cover grading or fill. Inside a city such as Covington, ask the city.
Does wet ground cost more to dig?
Yes, HomeGuide prices heavy or wet soil at $10.00 to $15.00 per cubic yard, the top of its national range. Covington averages 62.51 inches of rain a year. The Abita soils found in St. Tammany Parish drain somewhat poorly. From December through April, their water table sits 1 to 3 feet down.
What do we need to quote your excavation job?
Tell us what the dig is for and about how big it is. Let us know if dirt has to leave the site or come in. HomeGuide notes that some contractors price clearing, leveling or grading separately, so compare what each quote covers.
We quote by the job once we have seen the ground on a site visit. W2 Commercial Construction is fully insured and holds LA State Lic# 78829. We bring more than 20 years of work on Northshore ground. Ask for a free excavation estimate and we will set up the visit.