Excavation contractors dig, grade, and move earth for home builders, property owners, and other trades. Typical invoices cover equipment time with an operator, hauling and dump fees, trenching for utilities, foundation and basement digs, septic installs, and site grading. Most are owner-operators or small crews with a few machines and trucks.
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Excavation is priced either by the hour for machine and operator, or as a flat bid for a defined scope. Hourly rates are common for small jobs, repairs, and work with unknown conditions, and are usually quoted per machine (mini excavator, backhoe, skid steer, dozer) with a minimum, often 3 to 4 hours. Larger jobs such as basement digs, septic systems, and driveways are often bid as a lump sum or by unit, such as per cubic yard, per linear foot of trench, or per load hauled. Trucking is billed per hour or per load, and fill, gravel, and topsoil are billed per ton or per yard with a markup. Add mobilization (lowboy transport) as its own line, plus dump or disposal fees at cost plus a handling charge. Rock, groundwater, and buried debris are normally excluded from fixed bids and billed as extras at your hourly rate.
| 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.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobilize mini excavator and trailer to job site (round trip) | 1 flat fee | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Mini excavator with operator, trench for water line and electrical conduit, 4 hr minimum applied | 8 hours | $130.00 | $1,040.00 |
| Dump truck with driver, haul spoil off site | 3 hours | $115.00 | $345.00 |
| 3/4 inch crushed stone for pipe bedding and backfill, delivered | 14 tons | $32.00 | $448.00 |
| Dump fee for excess spoil (at cost plus 10%) | 1 flat fee | $165.00 | $165.00 |
| Extra: removal of buried concrete slab found in trench path, approved by owner on site | 1.5 hours | $130.00 | $195.00 |
| Total | $2,443.00 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 15 days of invoice date. Balance after the 30% deposit received on 6/3. Extra work approved verbally by owner on 6/5 and listed above. Late balances accrue 1.5% per month. Checks payable to the company name above; ACH and card accepted.
Excavation is tied to a specific parcel, and the address lets owners, lenders, and inspectors match the invoice to the work.
Clients dispute machine time more than anything else, so list each machine separately with hours and dates.
Moving equipment and hauling are real costs that clients often forget; separate lines prevent them from being questioned as padding.
Gravel, fill, topsoil, and stone are priced per ton or yard and should match the delivery tickets you can show on request.
These are pass-through costs, and attaching tickets backs up the amount if the client questions it.
Rock, buried debris, wet ground, and added trench length are common extras. A written record of approval avoids fights over work outside the original bid.
Many states and counties require a license number on contracts and invoices, and general contractors or lenders often request proof of insurance.
Most excavators take a deposit of 25 to 50 percent on larger jobs to cover mobilization and materials, with the balance due on completion or within 7 to 30 days. Small hourly jobs are often paid on the day or within a week. Progress billing is typical for jobs spanning several weeks, such as site prep for a new build, with draws tied to milestones like rough excavation, utilities in, and final grade. Late fees of 1 to 1.5 percent per month are common if stated in writing up front. Checks, ACH, and card are all used; add a card fee only if your state allows it. On commercial and builder work, expect net 30 and possible retainage. Check your state's mechanics lien rules and notice deadlines, since they can protect you if payment stalls.
Moving a machine on site costs time and fuel even for a one-hour dig. A 3 or 4 hour minimum, written on the quote and invoice, covers that and stops requests for quick favors at a loss.
If your quote says hourly rates run from the time the machine leaves your yard until it returns, say so in writing. Otherwise clients assume billing starts when the bucket hits dirt.
When you hit rock, a buried tank, or soft ground, stop, take a photo, and get a text or signature approving the extra cost. Add it to the invoice with the date.
Photograph every ticket the day you get it. Matching tickets to invoice quantities settles most disputes about tonnage and loads in minutes.
Many states require a preliminary notice within a set number of days of starting work to keep lien rights. Check your local rules and send notices on builder and commercial jobs even when you expect to be paid.
Use hourly when conditions are unknown, such as repair work, old lots, or clearing, and use a flat fee when the scope is clear and you can see the site, such as a standard basement dig or driveway. Many contractors bid flat but list hourly rates for extras like rock or extra hauling.
Yes. Mobilization is normally billed as a separate line for lowboy delivery, or as hourly time from yard to site. State it in your quote so the client agrees to it before the job.
List trucking by the hour or load, and list dump fees as a separate line at cost, often with a 10 to 15 percent handling markup. Keep scale tickets so you can show the actual cost.
Exclude it from fixed bids in writing and bill it at your hourly rate with any needed rock breaker or hammer attachment. When you find it, document with photos and get the client's approval before continuing.
It depends on the state. Some tax materials like gravel and fill, some tax certain construction services, and many exempt labor. Check with your state revenue department or an accountant, and show tax on a separate line when required.
Send a Excavation estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Excavation estimate template