Excavation Contractors in Missouri
Find excavation contractors serving Missouri properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 71 excavation contractors across 2 Missouri metros, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Missouri Excavation Contractors by City
- Kansas City excavation contractors: 44 verified
- St. Louis excavation contractors: 27 verified
Missouri Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 44 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| St. Louis | 27 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| Total listings | 71 | 26 | 7 | 4 |
Counts come from the listings on each city page. The Contractors column is the number of excavation companies listed; each confirms excavation on its own website. The other columns count companies whose sites also confirm that service, so one company can appear in more than one column.
How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in Missouri?
Excavation typically costs $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard for ordinary soil, or $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator with an operator, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 guide. Its average total project is $1,100 to $5,600, with trenching at $5 to $12 per linear foot and pond digging at $300 to $3,200. These are national figures; no published source gives a reliable Missouri-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Missouri Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | RSMo 319.026 requires an excavator to serve notice of intent to excavate on the notification center (Missouri One Call, 811 or 1-800-DIG-RITE) at least two working days, but not more than ten working days, before the planned start of excavation, by 24-hour toll-free phone or the internet. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | Land disturbance permits are required for construction disturbance of one or more acres, or less than one acre when part of a larger common plan of development or sale, through the Land Disturbance Stormwater General Permit (MO-RA) applied for via ePermitting; a separate Area-Wide permit (MO-R100) is for government jurisdictions only. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | Under 10 CSR 10-6.045 as summarized by MoDNR, open burning of tree trunks, limbs and vegetation from land clearing is allowed when it takes place outside city limits and more than 200 yards from the nearest occupied structure; commercial land clearing inside city limits or within 200 yards must meet the fuller open burning rule. Tires and used oil may not be used or burned, and local governments (including Kansas City and the City of St. Louis air programs) may impose stricter rules. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Kansas City: In Kansas City, Missouri, clearing, grading or filling one acre or more requires a city site disturbance permit and an approved tree preservation and protection plan, and even disturbances over 300 square feet must install erosion and sediment controls.
- St. Louis: In the City of St. Louis, site grading or excavation requires a building permit from the Building Commissioner, except minor site work that does not change grades by more than six inches at property lines, block drainage or cause erosion.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Missouri
Send every bidder the same plans and dimensions. Ask whether the price is per cubic yard, per hour or a fixed total; whether spoil haul-off, imported fill, rock and compaction testing are included; who handles permits and utility locates; and what the finished grade will look like.
For background, read site preparation, excavation cost and land grading.
Sources
- Missouri: 811 requirement (effective August 28, 2025)
- Missouri: Construction stormwater permit (no date (current MO-RA permit expires Feb. 7, 2027))
- Missouri: Open burning rules (PUB2047, 05/01/2020)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Excavation Cost? (written February 5, 2026)
Reviewed October 16, 2026. Prices are attributed national estimates. Confirm permit requirements for your parcel with the city or county.