How much does grading and excavation cost in Warner Robins?
Dirt work runs from a few hundred dollars to fix one wet corner to five figures to clear and build up a new home site. These are rough 2026 prices for the common jobs, and the things that make one Houston County quote higher than the next.
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What do common grading jobs cost?
| Job | Rough cost |
|---|---|
| Yard grading or regrading | $500 to $5,000; $1,000 to $3,000 around a whole house |
| French drain | $10 to $35 a linear foot; $500 to $8,800 installed |
| Gravel driveway, new | $4 to $10 a square foot |
| Land clearing | $1,200 to $8,000 an acre, light to heavy |
| Stump grinding | $120 to $400 for the first stump; $30 to $60 each extra |
| Forestry mulching | $400 to $800 an acre (HomeGuide 2023); $1,000 to $2,500 (Angi 2026) |
| Silt fence | $3 to $7 a linear foot installed |
| Swale or drainage ditch | $5 to $15 a linear foot |
| Foundation pad for a new home | $1,500 to $10,000 |
| General excavation | $2.50 to $15 a cubic yard; $100 to $300 an hour |
These are national guides, mostly from HomeGuide's 2025–2026 surveys. Local quotes can come in above or below them.
What pushes the price up in Houston County?
- Fill dirt: Flat lots often need soil trucked in to build up a pad or regrade a yard, and every load adds truck time.
- Finding an outlet: On flat ground, water may have to be piped a long way to reach a ditch, the street or a dry well.
- Wet ground: Low, wet soils near creeks slow machines and can need extra base or fabric.
- Debris in summer: From May through September, the summer burning ban means grinding or hauling debris instead of burning it.
- Permits and road work: A culvert on a county road needs a permit and an inspection, and bigger jobs need erosion control.
How do I compare grading quotes?
Get the same details from every crew: what's being cut, filled or hauled and how many loads; the base depth on a drive; the length, depth and outlet of a drain; whether stumps, debris and seeding are included; and who files the 811 request and any county permit.
The cheapest number often leaves something out, such as compaction, a drain outlet or the base under a driveway, and that gap tends to cost more a year later.
Where in Houston County do calls come from?
Warner Robins, Perry, Centerville, Bonaire, Kathleen and the rest of Houston County. The service area page lists the towns and communities.
Common questions
Why can two quotes be so far apart?
Two yards the same size can need very different amounts of fill, and access, hauling and the outlet change how long a crew is there.
Hourly or a fixed price?
A fixed price is easier to compare for a clear job. Hourly can suit small fixes. Ask what's included either way.
Is there a best season for dirt work?
Dry stretches are best. Wet winter weeks slow grading, and spring books up fast.
Sources: HomeGuide, Cost to level or regrade a yard (Jan 2026) (source); HomeGuide, French drain cost (Feb 2026) (source); HomeGuide, Gravel driveway cost (Dec 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Land clearing cost (Nov 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Stump grinding cost (Dec 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Forestry mulching cost (Sept 2023) (source); Angi, Forestry mulching cost (Oct 2026) (source); HomeGuide, Silt fence installation cost (Nov 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Drainage system installation cost (Feb 2026) (source); HomeGuide, Excavation cost (Feb 2026) (source); Georgia EPD, Summer open burning ban (May 1 to September 30) (source); Houston County, Access Management and Encroachment Control Manual (2017), Chapter 6: driveways and culverts (source); Georgia 811, the 811 process (source).
Last reviewed November 2, 2026.
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