Leveling a yard costs $500 to $1,000 for a small one and $1,000 to $5,000 for an average back yard by HomeGuide's national 2026 figures. By HomeGuide's national count, clearing costs $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. Maryland's sediment and Critical Area rules apply to more jobs than people expect.
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 it cost to grade a yard or level a backyard?
To grade a yard costs $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, or $500 to $5,000 for most homes, with a $2,300 national average, by HomeGuide. One side of a house is $500 to $1,000 to regrade and the whole perimeter $1,000 to $3,000.
| Area | Finish grading | Rough grading |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $200 to $500 | $500 to $1,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $400 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $1,000 to $2,500 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $5,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 |
How do I know my yard needs grading in Baltimore?
Your yard needs grading if water stands near the house after a storm, the basement leaks after rain, or soil washes onto the walk or alley. Many older Baltimore yards have sunk along the back wall of the house where the backfill settled.
My yard runs downhill toward the back wall. What does fixing it cost?
When the ground slopes toward the house, regrading costs $500 to $1,000 per side or $1,000 to $3,000 around the house, per HomeGuide. We rebuild the strip along the wall with compacted soil and pitch it away to a swale, the alley or the street.
Is rough grading the same as finish grading?
No. Rough grading moves bulk soil to set the shape; finish grading smooths the surface for seed, sod or paving. By HomeGuide's national count, rough grading costs $1 to $2 per square foot and finish grading $0.40 to $1.00.
What does leveling a sloped backyard or a hillside cost?
Removing a slope or hill costs $1,000 to $5,000 by HomeGuide. On sloped Piedmont lots in Catonsville, Pikesville or Ellicott City, a level area usually needs a retaining wall, at $35 to $65 per square foot, with engineering for walls 4 feet or taller.
What does it cost to level ground for an above-ground pool in Baltimore?
Leveling ground for an above-ground pool runs $200 to $850, per HomeGuide. We cut the high side to firm soil, since fill under a pool settles once it is full of water.
What does it cost to prepare land for a new house?
To prepare land for a new house, add clearing ($1,200 to $8,000 per acre), a foundation pad ($1,500 to $10,000), grading for new construction ($1,000 to $5,000) and utility trenches, all HomeGuide national ranges. In Maryland, forest conservation and sediment control plans can be part of a new lot too.
How long does it take to clear and grade a lot in Baltimore?
A lot takes a few days to a couple of weeks to clear and grade. In HomeGuide's estimate, a small dig takes 1 to 3 days and grading 3 days to a week. Permit review for grading and sediment control can take longer than the work itself.
What does land clearing cost per acre around Baltimore?
Land clearing costs $1,200 to $8,000 per acre, per HomeGuide: light $1,200 to $2,500, moderate $2,500 to $4,500, heavy $4,500 to $8,000.
| Lot | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 1/8 acre | $600 to $2,000 |
| 1/4 acre | $800 to $3,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200 to $8,000 |
| 2 acres | $1,900 to $15,000 |
How much to clear heavily wooded land in Baltimore?
Heavily wooded land costs $4,500 to $8,000 per acre to clear, by HomeGuide. Mature oak and tulip poplar woods in northern Baltimore County or Howard County fall in that range, and forest conservation rules may apply on larger sites.
What does brush and small tree clearing cost?
Clearing brush costs $800 to $3,000 per acre and one tree $400 to $1,200, by HomeGuide. English ivy, porcelain berry and multiflora rose are the brush we pull out most often around Baltimore.
Around Baltimore, can cleared brush be mulched on site, and what does forestry mulching cost?
Yes. Forestry mulching costs $500 to $1,000 or more per acre by HomeGuide, and the mulch can stay as ground cover, which helps keep sediment out of the storm drains. Big trees are still felled and hauled.
Can a lot be cleared without pulling every stump?
Yes. A lot can be cleared without pulling stumps except where something will be built or dug. The rest are cut low or ground, at $2 to $6 per inch per HomeGuide. In the Critical Area, leaving roots in place helps hold the shoreline soil.
What size machine is needed to clear land in Baltimore?
The machine size depends on the trees and access. A compact track loader with a mulcher handles brush; a mid-size excavator with a thumb handles stumps and bigger trees. Alley and gate width often decide it in the city.
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.