HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges put excavation at $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard and $1,100 to $5,600 for most projects. Around Baltimore, the Fall Line splits the ground: boulders and ledge to the north and west, sand and groundwater to the south and east.
The costs shown here are national ranges that HomeGuide publishes, not our own prices. In Baltimore, boulders, groundwater, alley access and haul distance are what really set a job's cost. Figures checked October 2026.
What does an excavation cost in Baltimore?
An excavation project costs $1,100 to $5,600 on HomeGuide's national scale, with a $3,500 average, a $500 low and a $20,000 high. We have seen no reliable Baltimore-only average. Soil, rock, water, alley access and haul-off decide where your job falls.
| Work | National range per HomeGuide |
|---|---|
| Home foundation pad | $1,500 to $10,000 |
| Excavating around an existing house | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Pad for a patio, deck or driveway | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Grading for a lawn | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| Rock or ledge removal | $1,000 to $20,000+ |
| Trench for sewer or drainage | $500 to $1,200 |
How is excavation priced per cubic yard?
HomeGuide prices excavation per cubic yard by ground type: light soil $2.50 to $6.00, average soil $6.00 to $10.00, heavy or wet soil and loose rock $10.00 to $15.00, and rock that must be hammered $50 to $200 or more. A Piedmont lot with boulders can move from the middle row to the last one partway down.
Is there a price per square foot or per acre?
For shallow work, yes: HomeGuide lists $1 to $5 per square foot and $1,000 to $3,000 per acre. Basements, laterals and footings are usually priced by volume or as a whole job instead.
How much do excavators charge per hour in Baltimore?
Excavators with their own machine charge $100 to $300 per hour, and an operator alone $50 to $150 per hour, per HomeGuide's national figures. Most set a minimum of one day or eight hours.
What does a day with an excavator and operator cost?
A day with an excavator and operator, eight hours at $100 to $300, comes to about $800 to $2,400. Renting a mini excavator yourself is $200 to $700 per day, by HomeGuide. In a rowhouse yard with shared walls and old laterals, an experienced operator is worth the extra.
What does mini excavator work cost?
Mini excavator work runs $100 to $300 per hour with operator, often with a minimum. A mini machine is often the only one that fits down a Baltimore alley or through a rowhouse back gate. It moves less soil per hour than a full-size excavator.
What is the minimum charge for a small job?
The minimum charge is commonly $500 to $800, according to HomeGuide's note on minimum project fees. Moving and setting up a machine costs the same for a small job as for a big one.
What does a small backyard dig cost in Baltimore?
A small backyard landscaping dig is $500 to $1,000 by HomeGuide's figures, and bigger yard work for drainage, pipe or erosion control reaches $5,000. In a rowhouse yard, getting the machine in through the alley is often the main cost.
What does it cost to haul dirt off the site?
To haul dirt off the site costs $140 to $230 per cubic yard or $1,400 to $2,300 per dump truck load, by HomeGuide's dirt removal page. Wet dirt is $210 to $300 per cubic yard and rocky dirt $175 to $265. Three loads come to $4,200 to $6,900.
Is dirt hauling included in my excavation price?
Dirt hauling may be included or billed separately, so check the quote. In the city, rowhouse lots have nowhere to leave spoil, so it almost always leaves by truck. On a larger county lot, some can be spread on site.
What does fill dirt cost?
Fill dirt costs $5 to $25 per cubic yard and topsoil $10 to $50, with $50 to $150 per delivery and $200 to $400 for spreading, per HomeGuide. Under a slab or drive, crushed stone is usually the better base.
Why are the quotes for my job so far apart?
Quotes are usually far apart because they cover different work. One may include hauling, stone, erosion control and permits; another may not. One may assume rock and another may not. Ask each contractor to list those items, then compare line by line.
Hourly or a fixed price: which should I choose?
Choose a fixed price for a defined job, like a footing dig from plans. Hourly fits uncertain work, like searching for a broken lateral under a rowhouse yard. On Piedmont lots where boulders are likely, get a fixed price with a written rate for rock.
Want to know what your job will cost? Call or text (410) 873-7935. We visit the site and then write up the scope and price.