Land clearing cost per acre
Published national ranges for clearing land by the acre and by the job, and how tree cover changes the price.
On this page: 3 sections
The figures here are published national ranges from cost guides and contractors. 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.
Cost per acre
HomeGuide puts land clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 an acre, depending on what's growing on the land.1
| Land | Published range per acre |
|---|---|
| Light clearing: shrubs, underbrush and small trees | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Moderate clearing | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| Heavy clearing: large trees | $4,500 to $8,000 |
Other sources publish wider ranges:
- HomeAdvisor gives $500 to $5,600 an acre.2
- Kitching's national figures are $4,000 to $7,500 an acre for heavy forest, and $6,000 to $12,000 or more for very dense or difficult land.3
- SiteX puts lightly wooded land at $2,000 to $15,000 an acre, and says heavily forested lots can exceed $40,000 an acre.4
Cost by the job
What moves the price
- Tree cover. It's the biggest difference between the light and heavy rows above. The cost estimator works out a range from these rows for your acreage and tree cover.
- Location. A rural job can add a mobilization fee of $500 to $2,000 or more.4
- Access, slope and disposal. Ask each contractor how they'll get machines in and what happens to the debris.
- Permits. Construction that disturbs one acre or more needs stormwater permit coverage under the Clean Water Act, and so does a smaller site that's part of a larger plan.6 Some states set their own thresholds, like Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Contractors whose names mention land clearing are marked on their listings. Pick your county below to see who's near you.
Ranges compiled from HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, SiteX and contractor-published guides, checked September 2026.
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