Grading and leveling cost
Published national ranges for grading a yard or a lot, cut and fill by the cubic yard, and what changes the price.
Updated September 13, 2026
The figures here are published national ranges from cost guides. They aren't quotes, we didn't measure them, and local prices vary. Use them to plan a budget, then get quotes from contractors near you.
Grading a yard
HomeGuide puts regrading at $500 to $1,000 for a small lawn and $1,000 to $5,000 for the average backyard.1 LawnLove puts grading and leveling a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot lot at $770 to $3,000.2
Grading by the acre
LawnLove's range for grading an acre is $15,800 to $44,535, with a national average of $30,000.2
Cut, fill and hauling
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Cut and fill | $1–$12 per cubic yard;3 HomeGuide says $1–$15 for residential work4 |
| Fill dirt | $5–$25 per cubic yard1 |
| Hauling dirt away | $8–$25 per cubic yard5 |
| Hillside or slope excavation | $1,000–$5,000 for most jobs5 |
| Topographic survey | $400–$1,5001 |
| Basic soil testing | $15–$4001 |
Sources measure per-yard work differently, so compare quotes by their totals.
What moves the price
- Slope and soil. Both move the price, and clay and rock cost more to work than loam.
- Access. Restricted access that needs smaller equipment or hand digging increases costs by 30% to 100%.6
- Where you are. Published labor data puts the Southeast's average cut rates lowest in the country, with the Midwest and West roughly 20% higher.7
For contractors in the Midwest, start from a state page like Indiana or Wisconsin, or pick your county below.
Ranges compiled from HomeGuide, Angi, HomeAdvisor, LawnLove, SiteX and CostFlowAI, checked September 2026.