A lot of planning goes into any sort of large DIY project or home renovation.
The more disruption that a renovation or project causes, the more planning it requires due to having to rearrange parts of your life.
However, one of the biggest things that needs to be taken into account before beginning a project is the cost.
This is particularly important for projects that require ground leveling. In this article, we will look at how much it can cost to level land.
What Factors Into The Cost Of Leveling Land?
Before we start looking at a bunch of numbers, it is important to understand what the cost of leveling land actually covers (see also “How Much Does It Cost To Level A House?“).
This can help you to make a more informed decision when you are comparing quotes from local companies and contractors.
It can also be helpful in understanding why leveling costs as much as it does.
Some of the most common factors that are taken into consideration when quoting to level land include surveying the land and creating a grading plan.
It is important to get a survey done when you are looking to level land. This can help to avoid complications in the future.
Your quote may also factor in any clearing of the landscape or excavation that may be needed.
This will be applicable to land that has trees, plants, and other debris that needs to be cleared before leveling can take place.
If the ground needs any erosion control improvements, this will also need to be factored into the cost of leveling the ground properly.
A smaller expense that can be added to the price is topsoil and fill dirt if it is needed.
What Is The Average Cost Of Leveling Land?
The average cost of leveling land ranges from around $500 to $5,000 although it can be cheaper or more expensive than this.
There are many things that affect the cost of leveling land which we will look at in more detail later.
However, to get a specific quote from a contractor, you will need to get them to view the land and understand the project that you are wanting to complete.
The Cost Of Leveling Land Based On Size
The main thing that informs the cost of leveling land is the size of the area that needs to be leveled.
This should not be surprising as the more land that needs to be leveled, the more time it will take.
Therefore, the price will rise. The specific price that you will pay to get your lawn or land leveled will depend on the contractor you use and the specific measurements of the land.
However, below is a rough guide to how much you can expect to pay for leveling depending on the size of your lawn.
It should be noted that these numbers are assuming that the entire area requires leveling.
For a small lawn or a portion of a lawn, you can expect to pay between $500 to $1,000.
This is assuming that there is no additional clearing that needs to be completed before leveling can begin.
For an average backyard, the cost rises to between $1,000 and $5,000.
Again, this is without any additional clearing or erosion control works that need to be done alongside the leveling.
If you want to regrade the land around your house, this can cost between 0 and £3,000 depending on the size of your house (see also “How Much Does It Cost To Stucco A House?“).
If you want to calculate a more accurate estimate for the land that needs to be leveled on your property, land leveling generally costs between $0.40 and $2.00 per square foot.
The larger the slope, the more expensive the job will be per square foot (see also “How To Landscape A Steep Slope On A Budget“).
What Factors Affect The Cost Of Leveling Land?
As with any kind of skilled labor job, there are specific factors that can affect the cost of a land leveling project.
We briefly mentioned these factors above. Here, we will look at them in more detail.
Soil Quality
The quality of the soil that needs to be leveled can have a significant impact on the cost of the project.
If your soil is high-quality and contains very little debris, the job will be much cheaper.
However, if you are working with low-quality soil that is littered with rocks and other small bits of debris, the job will cost more.
This is because the soil is more difficult to work with and larger rocks may need to be cleared first.
Slope Gradient
This is a more obvious factor that affects the cost of leveling.
The bigger the gradient of the slope that needs to be leveled, the more you will need to pay for it.
This is because there is much more excavation that is required to level the ground.
There is also a bigger need for topsoil and fill dirt which increases the overall cost through labor and materials.
Clearing Needs
If you are working with unprepared land that needs clearing before the leveling can be started, the cost will be significantly higher.
Clearing costs are incurred when things such as trees, bushes, large rocks, and other large debris need to be moved before leveling equipment can begin working.
Can Price Be Calculated Based On The Project?
When you are looking for contractors to level your land, you may find that some of them offer prices depending on the type of project that you are completing.
These can include patio areas, pools, and driveways among others.
This is a legitimate way of estimating the cost of leveling an area which is linked to the average size of a driveway or patio.
This isn’t the most accurate way to quote for a job though.
Final Thoughts
Leveling land is often one of the first steps in outdoor renovation projects.
The cost of leveling land can vary depending on a number of factors such as area size and quality of the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. it is possible to level land yourself by hiring the equipment necessary. This is a good option for smaller projects and can save a lot of money.
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