What is the Average Excavation Cost in Toronto in 2019

In Canada, the average residential excavation cost is an average of $4,100. Although many companies charge up to $200/hour, residential projects typically receive ‘project bids’ which reflect the cubic yards of dirt moved rather than an hourly rate. For these project bids, consider an excavation cost of up to $270 per cubic yard.

Excavation is all about preparing a site for development. In the average residential setting, an excavation must start with removing trees, digging, and then, grading the land. This is in preparation for laying down a foundation. Anything to do with dirt removal, cutting and filling, land clearing, or digging – it’s all done in the excavation process.

Although machinery to complete an excavation can vary, the most common choices include excavators, backhoe loaders, and/or trackers with a backhoe attachment. Depending on what’s required for a property, the correct heavy equipment will be selected according to the project and may affect overall costs.

When a professional excavator is rented by the hour or subcontracted for a project, complete costs for a machine and operator is generally up to $230/hour. There are many factors which could result in lower costs however. Regardless, the contractor’s going to walk away with the same amount whether they’re paid by the hour, cubic yard, acre, or project as a whole.

When contractors go bidding on excavation projects, in their bid, they will typically include associated costs, such as grading, land clearing, land leveling, and erosion control. We recommend not trusting any company giving a firm bid on a project without having been to the site first. This is a sure-fire way to increase cost. There are so many factors which can influence a quote or estimate that it really takes an excavator to get to the job site, and see the land and surrounding terrain to make an accurate charge.

Regarding land clearing, this can be a sizeable cost and typically comes in acre pricing. Land clearing involves the removal of trees, shrubs, and debris, leaving a landowner with a flat space ready to be built on and/or developed. The average cost for land clearing in Canada runs between $270/acre and up to $8,000/acre. When it comes to grading, you can add between $0.98/square foot and $2.90/square foot. In an acre, there’s 43,560 square feet and so one may pay anywhere from $27,000 to $134,000 per acre.

Now, there are several factors which can affect costs positively or negatively – accessibility plays a role as well as the type of soil, style of terrain, if it’s flattening hills or slopes, what equipment is needed, and where in the construction season one is.

Among the top reasons to excavate land include to install home foundations, waterproofing basements, to install in-ground pools, to pour concrete patios, grade for driveways, and erosion control and drainage. In industrial applications, this sort of work may be used to clear and grade farmland. In commercial applications, excavation’s used to clear roads, bridges, parks, and especially in Toronto, corporately-owned condo developments.

If you’re looking for a Toronto excavator and grading company, contact Core Mini Bins. Always providing a fair, competitive right, our high quality excavators will ensure a job done well and properly every step of the way. Contact a representative today.