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Excavation Contractors in Austin, Texas

Find excavation contractors serving Austin, Texas, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. Compare local excavation companies, check which services each one offers, and contact them directly about your project.

Excavation Contractors Serving Austin

40 excavation contractors serving Austin confirm on their own websites that they offer excavation (checked October 2026). Each listing links to the page where the company describes the service, so you can check it yourself.

Excavation Services in Austin

ServiceWhat to ask the contractor
Site preparationWhich stages are included: clearing, grubbing, excavation, grading, compaction
Foundation and basement excavationEngineered depths, soil conditions, spoil haul-off
Land gradingDrainage direction, imported fill, compaction testing
TrenchingUtility locates, trench safety, backfill
Pond excavationDepth, spoil placement, spillway

How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in Austin?

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 Austin-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.

Austin Permits and Local Rules

Austin regulates trees 19 inches and larger, and heritage trees 24 inches and larger can’t be removed without a variance, but the tree ordinance doesn’t apply in the ETJ.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Protected and heritage treesA protected tree is 19 inches or more in diameter and needs a permit to remove. Heritage trees are 24 inches or more of listed species, including all oaks, pecan and cedar elm; removing one is prohibited without a variance, and variances for heritage trees 30 inches or larger go through a public process.Source
What counts as removalRemoval includes excessive damage to the root system, excessive pruning, severing the trunk or uprooting. Any impact to a regulated tree, above or below ground, needs a permit. Permits for dead, diseased or hazardous trees are free.Source
ETJThe city arborist states the tree ordinance does not apply in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ); it applies in Austin’s full and limited purpose jurisdictions.Source
FloodplainA site plan is required for all development proposed within the 100-year floodplain, and any fill must be offset by at least an equal amount of excavation within the floodplain.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners, excavators and contractors are required by law to call 811 at least two days before digging. The call is free.Source
Construction stormwater permitDisturbing 1 acre or more, including clearing, grading and excavating, needs TCEQ construction stormwater coverage. Smaller sites can too if part of a larger common plan of development.Source
Burning cleared brushTCEQ allows burning brush from on-site land clearing under certain conditions, but never during a county burn ban or red flag warning, and never materials such as plastic, tires or treated lumber. County burn bans are mapped daily by the Texas A&M Forest Service (https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/BurnBans/).Source

Confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county before work starts. See land clearing permits for a full checklist.

How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Austin

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 before you call, read site preparation, excavation cost and land grading. If the site still has trees and brush, start with Austin land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Austin?

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. Get quotes from local contractors for your exact scope.

What’s the difference between excavation and land grading?

Excavation digs out or moves earth to reach required depths. Land grading shapes the surface to set slope and drainage. Many sitework contractors do both, but quotes often price them separately.

How are excavation contractors priced?

By the cubic yard, by the machine-hour or as a fixed total. HomeGuide lists $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard for soil and $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator with an operator. Ask which unit a quote uses before comparing bids.

More Texas Directories

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  • All excavation contractors

Sources

Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Austin quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.