The average cost to remove a boulder is $900, with most homeowners spending between $650 and $1,200. Size, location, disposal method, and equipment needed can all affect boulder removal costs.
Boulder removal costs an average of $900, and most projects total between $650 and $1,200. A boulder in your yard can be an attractive landscaping feature—or a frustrating nuisance. Removing a boulder from your yard can make it easier to mow or give you more usable space.
A few variables come into play when calculating the cost of your boulder removal project. Here’s a quick breakdown of where the money goes in your project:
The larger the boulder, the higher the cost to remove it. Since boulders cost around $50 to $200 per cubic yard to remove, factor in the size of your boulder to determine the cost to remove it.
| Boulder Size | Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| Small Boulders | $250 |
| Small to Medium Boulders | $650 |
| Medium Boulders | $950 |
| Large Boulders | $1,200 |
| Very Large Boulders | $2,400 |
The weight of the boulders you need removed will also play a role in your total largely because heavier individual boulders will require heavy machinery to lift. Professionals will charge higher costs if they need to use a ratchet hoist, an excavator, or other machinery for your project. Prices fluctuate based on the type of machinery and accessibility to the area, but the table below includes average costs to remove boulders based on weight.
| Weight (lbs.) | Removal Cost |
|---|---|
| 50 | $250 |
| 100 | $400 |
| 250 | $750 |
| 750 | $1,000 |
| 1,500 | $2,000 |
| 2,000 (1 ton) | $2,400 |
You will need a handful of supplies to remove a boulder. If you hire a pro to do the job, they’ll factor these expenses into the total quote, but if you’re removing the boulder on your own, here’s a breakdown of the different tools you may need.
| Tools and Supplies Needed for Removal | Cost for Those Tools and Supplies |
|---|---|
| Rototiller Rental | $25–$50 per day |
| Garden Gloves | $5 |
| Pointed Shovel | $30 |
| Garden Rake | $10 |
| Wheelbarrow | $150 |
| Dumpster Rental | $300–$500 per week |
| Excavator | $300 per day |
There are a few ways to remove boulders based on their size and location. Professionals may haul them off your property manually if you have several small boulders just a foot or two in diameter. This is the most cost-effective removal method, as you won’t have to pay equipment fees. Heavier boulders that are more than two feet in diameter will require the use of heavy machinery.
| Removal Method | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Manual | $250–$500 |
| Excavator | $400–$1,000 |
| Ratchet hoist | $1,000–$2,400 |
Most professionals will price your project out based on a combination of the total weight of the boulders you need to remove and the method they can use to remove them, meaning the number of boulders you have on your property will affect your costs. Trip fees and equipment rental fees are static, so you’ll pay up to $50 less per boulder if you have a large number to haul away. You’ll see the highest fees per boulder if you just have one to remove.
After your professional removes the boulders from your yard, they’ll either repurpose them or dump them. In either case, you’ll incur disposal fees, averaging $100 per ton. These fees will almost always be included in your initial estimate, but double-check before hiring your professional to make sure.
Where the boulder is located on your property and how accessible it is can affect your price. If it’s in a hard-to-access area, on a hill, or in soil that’s very rocky or has a high clay content, you may see your bill increase since removal will be more difficult.
Likewise, the area you live in can also dictate what you’ll pay. It can cost more to remove boulders in a rural area since the removal company will use more gas and have more wear and tear on their trucks getting into and out of remote places.
Most removal companies charge anywhere from $120 to $150 per hour depending on location, distance for transporting a removed boulder, and the extent of work required to remove the boulder. Labor fees are also included in your initial estimate, as well as in the figures mentioned above.
Keep in mind that when you sign a contract with an excavator company, you’ll likely be billed a minimum amount of guaranteed service hours (normally eight hours a day). For this reason, you’ll probably spend between $950 and $1,200 to hire an excavation company near you to do the job if your pros need to make use of heavy machinery.
Not all boulders are giant monoliths. For smaller rocks, consider the cost of materials and time needed to determine if DIY removal is possible. If you can remove the boulder yourself, you’ll pay $100 per ton (2,000 lbs) in dumping fees, but if your project is large enough for you to need an excavator and a dumpster, tack on another $700 for the equipment rental.
DIYing small boulder removal means you’ll save an average of $800 on labor, but keep in mind that moving large rocks is inherently dangerous and comes with a risk of back injury from lifting. To save yourself from potential injury and to save the time it takes to remove and haul away the boulders, hire a local demolition service or a grading and hauling company near you.
Once your professionals remove those unwanted boulders, you’ll be left with a hole in your yard. With smaller boulders, you can fill the space with topsoil and grass seed, but removing a larger boulder may require regrading your yard to remove trip hazards and ensure the proper slope for drainage.
If you’re removing a boulder to make room for outdoor features like a patio, walkway, or outdoor kitchen, you’ll need to hire a hardscaping contractor and add the cost of hardscaping to your budget.
| Add-On | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Topsoil | $10–$50/cu. yd. |
| Grass seed | $0.10–$0.20/sq. ft. |
| Yard regrading | $1,000–$3,300 |
| Hardscaping | $5–$25/sq. ft. |
To save on the cost of removing a boulder, consider DIYing the job with a few friends if you have small boulders and a truck you can use to haul them to a dumping site. Once you’ve removed the boulder from the ground, consider relocating and repurposing it on your property to save on dumpster rental and dumping fees. Another tip for saving money is to use a sledgehammer or rotary rock hammer that can break the boulder into smaller pieces, making it easy to transport without having to pay for a dumpster.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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If you decide to DIY your boulder removal project, you’ll want to wear work gloves and protect your eyes if you decide to break the boulder into smaller pieces. Wear a lifting harness and focus on lifting with your legs to prevent back injuries. If you’re digging around a large boulder or using heavy machinery to get underneath it, make sure there are no utility lines nearby.
After you successfully remove your boulder, you have a few options for what to do to get rid of it. You can rent a dumpster if your yard has many boulders or if you’re planning a larger project. You can even save the boulder and reuse it elsewhere on your property to save on landscaping costs. A few ideas include using the boulder as a natural, abstract statue, breaking it into smaller pieces to line your garden bed, or offering it to a landscaping company that could reuse it for another project.
The best equipment for moving large rocks from your yard depends on their size and weight. A heavy-duty wheelbarrow or a rock dolly can be effective for smaller boulders. A skid-steer loader or a mini-excavator with a grapple attachment provides the necessary power and control for larger, heavier rocks that you can’t lift manually. Professionals may use a larger excavator and ratchet hoist to remove larger boulders.
