The average homeowner spends $2,176 to level a yard. Depending on yard size, labor costs, materials, and additional services, most homeowners pay between $1,023 and $3,338.
Leveling a yard to improve drainage, combat erosion, or provide a stable base for construction costs an average of $2,176. It can range between $1,023 and $3,338, with larger and steeper areas costing more to level. Most yard leveling costs $1 to $2 per square foot or up to $45,000 per acre.
Check out the cost breakdown of lawn grading services to determine the budget for your next project.
| Cost Factor | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Labor | $50–$100 per hour |
| Land clearing | $1,300–$5,700 |
| Land surveying | $375–$750 |
| Size | $1–$2 per square foot |
| Fill | $5–$30 per cubic yard |
| Topsoil | $12–$55 per cubic yard |
| Sod | $1,050–$2,800 |
| Permits | $100–$500 |
| Landscaping | $1,200–$6,000 |
| Retaining walls | $3,200–$9,200 |
| French drains | $500–$18,000 |
At the risk of stating the obvious, you’re undergoing a major landscaping project. You may need to clear the land of trees, purchase sod, and take into account any permits that go into the project.
It might sound like an obvious statement, but the size of your yard that you’re having leveled will impact the overall cost significantly. Professionals can either charge by the hour for this project at around $40 to $180 per hour or measure the yard by size to determine the cost.
If the contractor is charging by size, there are two ways to do it. One way is to measure the area of the land that you need to level based on square footage, and the second is based on per acre. If charging by square footage, expect to pay between $1 to $2 per square foot. The cost for square acreage can range from $3,000 for 1/5 of an acre and up to $45,000 for one acre.
| Size in sq. ft. | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $1,000–$2,000 |
| 2,000 | $2,000–$4,000 |
| 5,000 | $5,000–$10,000 |
| 10,000 | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Size in Acres | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1/5 | $3,000–$9,000 |
| 1/4 | $4,200–$11,250 |
| 1/2 | $8,500–$22,500 |
| 1 | $17,000–$45,000 |
The labor costs to regrade a yard are around $50 to $100 per hour. If the landscaping company you hire needs to clear the land, dig out any areas, and then put in the dirt, you’re looking at around 12 to 24 hours of labor. This will bring the total cost of labor to about $600 to $2,400 on average.
Trees, boulders, and any other landscaping features are likely going to need to be removed. The cost to clear land is around $1,300 to $5,700, depending on how many trees you have on your property.
More trees and larger trees significantly raise the price, as it requires extensive safety precautions to keep the tree clear of structures (and people). You might also need to hire a grading hauling company near you to remove debris.
The average land survey costs $530, with the final price depending on the size and topography of your yard. This could be money well spent to ensure you aren’t leveling a bit of land that doesn’t belong to you. The last thing you want is to start a boundary dispute with new neighbors.
The slope of your existing lawn will help dictate the overall price tag for this project. If you have a very steep slope on one side of your yard that you need to level, that will cost you more than a slight slope. Contractors typically charge based on the elevation change; the more significant the change, the bigger the price tag.
Fill dirt is a rocky material that’s ideal for packing in pockets during a regrade. It costs between $5 and $30 per cubic yard. How much you need depends on what’s available to relocate from elsewhere in your yard.
Topsoil goes down over the fill dirt. You’ll pay between $12 and $55 per cubic yard. Topsoil costs more than fill dirt because it’s full of nutrients to help nurture a lush landscape.
Grading typically requires permits and inspections to make sure you avoid damaging underground pipes and wires. If anything happens to them, you or your entire street could be without water or electricity—and that’s not a great way to score points with the neighbors.
Permits will cost around $100 to $500, depending on the city and county where you live. You also need to call your underground utility company before you proceed so they can mark out the lines, Dudley advises.
The part of the outdoor space you’re regrading and why plays a big role in calculating the final cost to level your yard. Check out these common regrading projects below to give you a better idea.
| Project | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Regrading around foundation | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Flattening a slope | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Pool leveling | $200–$900 |
| Driveway leveling | $1,500–$9,500 |
| Lawn leveling | $500–$4,500 |
| Fence leveling | $900–$3,000 |
When the ground immediately around your home isn’t sloping away sufficiently, you could face some fuss with your foundations. Regrading around your home’s foundation typically costs $1,000 to $3,000. It’s money well spent if you want to avoid full-on foundation repairs, like fixing cracks, leaning walls, or leaky basements.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 for hill flattening, depending on the type and scope of the project.
Leveling the space in your yard for a pool costs $200 to $900. You don’t want to shell out the cost to install an above-ground pool if it’s sitting on uneven ground. Over time, the wonky walls and liners will lead to damage and potential pool collapse. If you’re handy, you can level the ground for the pool yourself.
For those comfortable with DIY, you can learn how to level the ground for your pool without digging and get this project done in a weekend.
Regrading the average 640-square-foot two-car driveway is $1,500 to $9,500. If your existing drive always pools water after you hose down your car, don’t push ahead with a driveway makeover without doing this first. The seeping water can cause premature cracks.
Rather than coughing up money for the extra materials needed for a raised deck, patio, or porch, consider paying $500 to $4,500 for a lawn leveling service. While decks still benefit from some ventilation underneath, you won’t have to go so high, and you could make savings overall.
You can easily install your fence on a slope, but if you're a fan of uniform aesthetics, you might want to level the land first. You’ll have an additional $900 to $3,000 to pay on top of the cost of installing the fence.
While it is possible to DIY yard leveling, it requires heavy equipment, experience with land leveling, and knowledge of how terrain and soil can shift. You can rent yard grading equipment, but it’s expensive and may not save you much compared to hiring a pro. In most cases, yard leveling is a job best left to the pros. Proper yard leveling is necessary to protect your foundation, so you want to be sure the job is done right.
Hiring a local yard grading company will ensure the project is completed correctly and safely and follows all local codes and regulations. Yard grading pros have extensive experience with the necessary equipment to level your yard correctly the first time.
You can create just about any landscape design on a hill, but if you have a severe slope a professional landscaper can help install new drainage. Pooling water can lead to damaged plants and yards.
You can level your yard for various reasons, including to improve drainage, to create more usable space for landscaping, or to make a stable surface to build on. Depending on why you’re leveling your yard, you may need additional services. Some common add-ons include:
Sod installation: $1,000–$3,000
Hydroseeding: $650–$2,200
Retaining wall: $3,200–$9,200
French drain: $500–$18,000
When budgeting for your yard regrading project, consider these cost-saving tips:
DIY when possible: If you own the appropriate tools and equipment and only need to regrade a small area, consider tackling this project yourself to save money.
Clear all obstacles: Clearing your yard of any objects or debris before the professionals arrive will reduce hourly labor costs.
Shop around for the best deal: Get multiple quotes from yard regrading services to find the best pricing structure based on your desired outcome and area size.
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Regrading around your home’s foundation requires you to stay 4 inches below the top of the foundation and 4 inches below the bottom of the siding. Too high and heavy rain will make its way into your home; too low, and you may experience an increase in critters and pests.
People level their yards for practical and cosmetic purposes. If you have a very steep slope in your backyard, you might have a hard time with lawn maintenance. Or, if you want to entertain in the summer but don’t have a flat yard, building a patio would be quite difficult.
Grading refers to the sloping of your yard away from your house’s foundation. It’s a landscaping term you probably know well if you’ve ever had to push your lawn mower up a steep slope.
Leveling is the solution to grading issues since it involves making your yard flat and smooth (and easy to push a lawn mower through).
