Excavation contractors give estimates before any digging starts, usually after a site visit. Clients often compare several bids, so the scope, what is excluded, and how unknowns are handled matter as much as the total price.
When to use estimates: Use estimates to provide project quotes and get client approval before starting work. Once approved, convert your estimate to an invoice with one click to collect payment.
Create an invoice for payment collection
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
State the depth, width, length, or square footage, such as a 24 by 36 foot basement at 8 feet deep. Vague scope leads to disputes over what was included.
Hauling dirt away adds trucking and dump fees. Clients often assume it is included unless you say otherwise.
Specify gravel, fill, topsoil, pipe bedding, and quantities, and say whether you or the client buys them.
These are the biggest sources of cost overruns. State that they are billed as extras at your hourly rate.
Say who gets the permit and who calls for utility marking (811 in the US). Digging without locates creates serious liability.
Note what happens to lawns, driveways, and silt fence, and whether restoration like seeding or regrading is included.
Fuel, material, and schedule changes affect cost. A 30-day expiration and weather language protect you.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Mini excavator with operator | per hour | $100-160 |
| Backhoe or full-size excavator with operator | per hour | $125-220 |
| Skid steer or dozer with operator (grading) | per hour | $90-175 |
| Dump truck with driver (tandem or tri-axle) | per hour | $90-150 |
| Equipment mobilization (lowboy delivery) | flat fee per move | $150-600 |
| Utility trenching (water, electric, drain) | per linear foot | $5-25 |
| Basement or foundation excavation | flat fee | $2,500-8,000 |
| Septic system excavation and install labor | flat fee | $3,000-9,000 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
Look at access, soil, slope, nearby utilities, and where spoil can go. A 20-minute walk-through catches problems that change the price by thousands.
Estimate the hours per machine, add mobilization, trucking, materials, and disposal, then add overhead and profit. Include margin for machine wear and repairs, not just fuel and wages.
If you cannot know the amount, offer a rate per cubic yard of fill or per foot of trench with an estimated total. The client sees a clear basis for the final bill.
List add-ons such as finish grading, extra stone, or stump removal as options. For items with unknown cost, such as rock removal, list an allowance and say how overages are billed.
Free estimates are standard for typical residential jobs. For large site work that needs plan review or engineering input, many contractors charge a fee and credit it toward the job if awarded.
Usually 15 to 30 days. Fuel, trucking, and material costs change, and your schedule fills up, so put an expiration date on the quote.
Many excavators ask for 25 to 50 percent on larger jobs to cover mobilization and materials. On small hourly jobs, no deposit is common. State the amount and due date on the quote.
For a fixed bid, you absorb normal variation but can bill extras that are excluded in writing, like rock or extra hauling. For an hourly estimate, say it is an estimate and that you will notify the client if hours will go meaningfully over.
Use the Excavation invoice template to bill the client, or convert this estimate once it's approved.
Excavation invoice template