Site Preparation
Clearing, stripping topsoil, rough grading, and compaction to get a lot ready to build — what site prep involves, when you need it, and how to find a skilled contractor.
Learn more → Excavation & land grading
Find a trusted excavation and land-grading contractor near you
Site prep, land grading, foundation digs, drainage, trenching, lot clearing. Get matched, free, with vetted local contractors. You compare quotes and choose who to hire.
Gradeline is a free matching service, not an excavation company. You compare and choose who to hire.
Always free for property owners Vetted local contractors Licensed, insured & bonded pros 10 languages
What we cover
Excavation and grading work we help you with
The kinds of site-work jobs the vetted contractors we match you with handle.
Land Grading & Leveling
Shaping and sloping ground for proper drainage, level building pads, driveways, and yards — what grading involves, why slope matters, and choosing the right contractor.
Learn more →Foundation & Basement Excavation
Digging footings, foundations, and basements to plan and depth — shoring, soil conditions, when you need it, and finding an excavation pro.
Learn more →Drainage & Trenching
French drains, swales, culverts, and utility trenching to move water and run lines safely — what the work involves, call-before-you-dig, and finding a contractor.
Learn more →Land & Lot Clearing
Brush, tree, stump, and debris removal to open a lot for building or use — what clearing involves, permits and erosion control, and finding a pro.
Learn more →Demolition & Debris Hauling
Small-structure demolition, concrete and slab removal, and debris hauling — what's involved, disposal and dust control, and finding a licensed contractor.
Learn more →Simple and free
How Gradeline works
Four clear steps — and you stay in control the whole way.
01
Tell us about your project
Your excavation or grading job, your area, and how to reach you. Project and contact details only — never financial account numbers.
02
Get matched, free
We connect you with vetted, licensed, insured excavation and grading contractors near you, at no cost to you.
03
Compare and confirm the price
Ask for the full scope and price in writing before work starts. The lowest phone quote isn't always the real bill once soil, rock, and haul-off are counted.
04
You choose and hire
You decide who to hire. Confirm the work is done right, and the site is graded to drain, before you make the final payment.
Honest pricing
Honest excavation and grading cost ranges
Real numbers depend on lot size, soil, access, haul-off, and your area. These are typical ranges, not quotes.
Site visit / assessment$0–$250
Land grading (per sq ft)$0.50–$2.00
Excavation (per cubic yard)$50–$200
Foundation / basement dig$1,500–$8,000
French drain (per linear ft)$15–$70
Lot clearing (per acre)$1,500–$6,000
Always hire licensed, insured, bonded contractors — verify the license and insurance yourself, and call 811 to mark utilities before any digging starts.
Plain-language help
Know before you dig
Plain-language guides so you understand the work and choose a contractor with confidence.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor
How to vet, compare, and choose a licensed, insured, bonded excavation and grading contractor — the questions to ask, the red flags, and what belongs in a written contract.
Read the guide →Grading & Drainage Explained
What grading is, why slope and drainage matter, how water should move away from your home, and how a grading job is done right.
Read the guide →How to Read a Site-Work Quote
Line by line: what a real excavation and grading estimate should include, hidden costs like haul-off and rock, and how to compare bids fairly.
Read the guide →Permits, Surveys & Call 811 Before You Dig
When excavation and grading need a permit, why you need a survey and a soil test, and how to call 811 to mark utilities before any digging starts.
Read the guide →Planning a site prep or grading project?
Get matched, free, with vetted local excavation and grading contractors. You compare quotes and choose who to hire — and you confirm the price in writing before any work starts.